A Columbus man suspected of shooting at two vehicles in the middle of the day Monday is behind bars and investigators are searching for a second suspect.
Officers with the Columbus Police Department took Christopher “Sweetie” Armstrong into custody Monday around 11:30 a.m. after he allegedly shot at two vehicles on Sixth Avenue North, near Martin Luther King Drive. The incident occurred at 11:21 a.m., according to department officials. Armstrong, 22, drove from the scene in a silver Ford Explorer. Armstrong drove less than a block before hitting a curb and a mailbox before crashing the SUV into a front yard of a Sixth Avenue North residence. Armstrong and the second suspect fled on foot.
Armstrong was apprehended by officers almost immediately after he crashed. The second suspect was still at-large as of press time today.
People standing on a nearby street corner after the incident said that Monday was Armstrong’s birthday and an argument over a woman may have led to the shooting.
As he was being led in handcuffs to a squad car, Armstrong told officers, “Man, this is some bulls—.” Armstrong then asked for medical assistance for injuries suffered during the vehicle accident.
First responders with Columbus Fire and Rescue and Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle responded. Armstrong was treated on scene before being taken into custody.
Armstrong is expected to be chargd with multiple felony charges today including drive-by shooting, shooting into a dwelling and seven aggravated assault charges.
In May 2009, Armstrong was convicted of a 2008 armed robbery. He was sentenced to five years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He was released to probation in October 2013.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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