The Columbus city councilman whose ward has suffered two homicides within the past month is calling on police to form a special task force to target high-crime areas and deter violence.
“If we don”t tighten up there”s going to be a lot more (incidents) just like this,” said Ward 5 Councilman Kabir Karriem.
The man accused of killing Justin Murry, 22, of Columbus, Monday morning had no criminal record, court records showed, as more details emerged about the argument that boiled over into a killing.
Ranzino Ahmad Harris, 22, of 301 Bishop Circle in Columbus, was charged with murder and aggravated assault with a weapon after he allegedly shot Murry at 1415 Schoolhouse Ave. Neither Harris nor Murry had prior arrests or convictions.
Following a confrontation with Murry and Michael Brewer, 21, of 207 Kermit St. in Columbus, at the Schoolhouse Avenue address, Harris allegedly returned with a gun. When Murry and Brewer walked outside to leave, Harris allegedly shot Murry in the chest at point-blank range as he stood in the doorway. Murry and Brewer turned to run after the first shot and Harris fired again, police said. The second bullet struck Brewer in the hand, severing part of his middle finger, and traveled on to hit Murry in the back. Murry”s body was found in the home. Murry did not reside at the Schoolhouse Avenue home.
The gun used in the crime was a semi-automatic pistol of unknown caliber. Columbus police found two shell casings at the scene. No other weapons were found in the home.
The initial confrontation between Murry, Brewer and Harris was apparently over Harris attempting to speak to his ex-girlfriend, who was in the Schoolhouse Avenue home, witnesses said.
“(Harris) and his girl had got in to it and we had restrained him,” said Brewer of the first confrontation. “(Harris) walked outside and said ”OK. I”m ”a go on.” And I guess he played like he left his phone in the house, and when me and Justin was ready to go, he was right there and he shot him.”
At some point during the first confrontation Harris received a blow to the head. He was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle by CPD after turning himself over to police.
Harris is currently being held in the Lowndes County Detention Center. No bond or court date had been set as of this morning. Harris also did not have a lawyer and refused to speak to police before retaining legal representation.
Karriem arrived on the scene shortly after the shooting to comfort Murry”s friends and family.
He said the incidence of gun-related crime in Columbus and the trend of teenagers with access to guns is increasing. Although the men allegedly involved in Monday”s shooting were in their early 20s, Karriem said something must be done to curb the culture of young people carrying guns.
On April 20, Quentin Spencer, 20, of Columbus, was killed in a shooting at the Everyday Club and Lounge on Seventh Avenue North, which is also in Karriem”s ward. The lounge is closed but the crime remains unsolved.
Karriem says the answer to the gun problem may be the formation of a special CPD task force to target high-crime areas and deter violence. Chief Joseph St. John says the CPD has already begun a similar effort in the downtown area and plans to expand the scope of those focused patrols.
“We”ll see that increasing into the neighborhoods. We”ll take what we”re already doing and target the places we”re having problems,” he said.
St. John said the department can handle the workload with its current personnel, but will need to make some modifications. If more officers are necessary to crack down on crime, Karriem says safety should be the priority and, if necessary, additional funds should be routed to the police department to hire additional officers.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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