Former Columbus police officer Canyon Boykin’s attorneys have filed a motion to move his manslaughter trial out of Lowndes County.
Boykin has been indicted for manslaughter in the shooting death of 26-year-old Ricky Ball the night of Oct. 16, 2015. Boykin, who shot Ball following a traffic stop from which Ball fled, entered a not-guilty plea behind closed doors before Circuit Judge Jim Kitchens on Sept. 6. He was released from jail the same day after posting $20,000 bond.
Boykin is white; Ball was black.
In the motion filed Monday in Lowndes County Circuit Court, Boykin’s attorneys contend extensive media coverage and public outcry over the incident would make it impossible for Boykin to have a fair trial in Lowndes County.
“Officer Boykin’s case has been overly publicized — overwhelmingly in a false, negative light — in the media since the moment the shooting occurred,” the motion says. “There have been multiple community meetings, public demonstrations and marches and online petitions circulated to push for an indictment of Officer Boykin.”
Attorneys Jim Waide of Tupelo and Jeff Reynolds of Jackson are representing Boykin. Both declined to comment on the motion.
The motion cites reports from The Dispatch and Columbus Packet, as well as remarks on social media, videos on Facebook and YouTube, and entries on the Justice for Ricky Ball blog.
In the motion, Boykin’s attorneys reference one blog post claiming a community member observed a CPD officer placing a gun beside Ball’s body after his body was pulled from under the witness’ home.
“There is not one scintilla of evidence to support this false statement,” the motion says.
The motion goes on to note Boykin has been the subject of threats in the community since the Ball shooting.
“For example, approximately two months ago, Officer Boykin was in the parking lot of Food Giant in Columbus when an individual started yelling at him, screaming ‘You killed my friend, you’re going to get what you deserve,'” the motion says. “Further, a member of Mr. Ricky Ball’s family has approached Officer Boykin in public and has taken pictures of Officer Boykin as he went about his private affairs.”
Two affidavits are included in the motion, one each from Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge and former Sheriff Wayne Beard. Both say they do not believe Boykin can receive a fair trial in Lowndes County.
“Since that night, there has been continuing media coverage, both in the newspapers and on television, of this matter in Lowndes County,” Arledge’s affidavit says. “There has also widespread public speculation surrounding the events of October 16, 2015, and I have seen multiple public protests in support of Mr. Ricky Ball.
“My observation and professional opinion is that large sects of the population in Lowndes County have an opinion about this case without knowing the facts of what actually happened,” he continues.
Beard, who says he personally knows Boykin, echoes Arledge’s sentiments in his affidavit.
Assistant Attorney General Stanley Alexander is the appointed special prosecutor is the case. The Dispatch could not reach him for comment by press time.
Case background
Boykin is accused of shooting the 26-year-old Ball following a traffic stop near the intersection of 21st Street North and 15th Avenue North. Ball, police said, was a passenger in the car being stopped and fled on foot.
Ball was later shot twice, according to Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant. He was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle after officers found him on the ground roughly 1.5 blocks from the traffic stop site.
Authorities said a 9mm pistol was found nearby. State authorities, as part of their investigation, were conducting tests on the firearm to see if Ball possessed it at any time. The pistol, according to city officials, had been stolen from a CPD officer’s home in the months prior to Ball’s death.
Boykin did not turn his body camera on before or during the shooting incident. He also reportedly had an unauthorized passenger riding with him in his patrol car.
The city council later fired Boykin, citing the officer had also violated the city’s social media policy by making derogatory posts toward African Americans, women and disabled people after the incident. He later filed a federal lawsuit against the city for wrongful termination, in which he claims Ball pointed a pistol at him prior to the shooting.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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