Both sides have submitted suggested counties to host Canyon Boykin’s criminal case.
Boykin, a former Columbus police officer, is charged with manslaughter in the Oct. 16, 2015, shooting death of 26-year-old Ricky Ball.
Boykin’s attorneys, in a document filed earlier this month, suggested Walthall, Attala and Montgomery counties.
Meanwhile, the state, in a document filed Tuesday in Lowndes County Circuit Court, suggests Marshall, Pike and Lauderdale counties.
Mississippi 16th Circuit Judge Lee Coleman granted a change of venue request filed by Boykin’s attorneys, Jeffrey Reynolds of Jackson and Jim Waide of Tupelo, after a Nov. 18 hearing. During the hearing, Coleman agreed intense media coverage and public awareness of the case determined it in the best interest to move the case to another county to preserve the integrity of the jury pool.
Coleman ordered both the defense and prosecution to submit three counties for consideration. He also urged attorneys to consider counties with similar demographics to Lowndes County, given the nature of the case. Boykin is white, while Ball was black.
A hearing date for Coleman to review the submissions had not been set as of Tuesday. Boykin’s case has been continued until Feb. 27.
Defense suggestions
Walthall County, in south Mississippi, seems to be the defense’s preferred county. As Boykin’s attorneys note in the filing, the county’s demographics are nearly identical to Lowndes County — 43.7 percent black and 54.3 percent white in Walthall compared to 43.8 percent black and 54.1 percent white in Lowndes. Walthall County is also far enough away that the attorneys felt its residents “almost certainly have never heard of the shooting incident in question.”
Attala County, to the southwest of Lowndes County, also bears similar demographics (42.2 percent black, 56.6 percent white) and is far enough away that Boykin’s attorneys felt media coverage would have negligible impact.
Montgomery County, with its nearest border just more than an hour’s drive west of Lowndes on Highway 82, has similar demographics as well (45.4 percent black, 53.4 percent white). But the filing notes Winona, the county seat, is within the viewing range of Tupelo-based WTVA, which carried news coverage of the incident.
The state’s suggestions
Stanley Alexander and Patrick Beasely of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are prosecuting the case.
While their document does not include demographic information for their suggested counties, Marshall County — located in north Mississippi — is 48 percent black and 50.4 percent white, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. .
Pike County, in south Mississippi, is 52.9 percent black and 45.3 percent white. Lauderdale County, in east central Mississippi, is 43.2 percent black and 54.5 percent white.
Coleman will review the submissions at a hearing to select a county. He has noted he might reject all suggestions and select a county on his own.
The shooting
Boykin shot and killed Ball the night of Oct. 16, 2015, after Ball fled on foot from a traffic stop. He was a passenger in the vehicle being stopped.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said Ball was shot twice — once in the upper body and once in the lower body.
Boykin was with CPD officer Johnny Branch and then-officer Yolanda Young. Young resigned from CPD following the shooting.
The officers were in a patrol car with an unauthorized civilian passenger the night of the shooting.
The Columbus City Council fired Boykin weeks after the incident for unauthorized passenger violations, for not having his body camera turned on, and for derogatory social media posts he made toward women, African Americans and disabled people following the shooting.
Boykin has filed a federal lawsuit against the city for wrongful termination, in which he claims Ball pointed a gun at him before the shooting.
Two separate wrongful death lawsuits — one from the Ricky Ball estate and one from Ball’s father, Ricky Martin — have also been filed.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.