Four of seven suspects make first court appearance in fatal Fort Benning Road shooting
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Within the first week of 2024, one man was shot and killed in his apartment during what investigators describe as a drug deal gone wrong. Seven different co-defendants have been arrested, four of which had their initial hearing Wednesday morning.
Here’s what the lead investigator on this case, Sgt. Sherman Hayes, said happened on Jan. 8.
“What we would find is that William Brown was a known drug dealer selling marijuana, and on this incident was setting up to make a purchase of marijuana,” Sgt. Hayes said. “Upon breaking into this unit to commit the robbery, one of the individuals charged in this crime braced his firearm and happened to shoot Mr. Brown. They’ve all been charged with armed robbery and murder.”
Wednesday morning, Kentarious Cooper, Cameron Davis, Javon Green, and Terrell Thomas all appeared before Chief Judge David Ranieri. Prior to Wednesday’s hearing, two additional co-defendants, Trinity Farley and DeVaris Bin appeared in Recorder’s Court. Their cases were bound over to Superior Court.
Cooper, Davis, Green, and Thomas are all charged with armed robbery and murder, each attorney representing them entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. All defendants are facing both charges as they have all either been identified as the shooter, as an accomplice, or placed at the scene by surveillance footage.
Cooper was in jail in connection to another murder, which occurred in 2022. Authorities arrested him for that murder on Jan. 12 of this year, four days after the killing of Brown. Here’s what Cooper said in his initial his interview with lead investigator Sgt. Hayes on Brown’s death.
“[Cooper] named one of his co-defendants as the shooter, but we’ve interviewed everybody involved in this and we gained confessions for almost all of them because there’s other co-defendants and we’ve already presented probable cause on… and everyone except for Mr. Cooper has identified one shooter in this incident,” Sgt. Hayes said. “Mr. Cooper provided a different one.”
Williams, Binn, Gree, and Farley all named the same shooter. Cooper was the only co-defendant who named a different shooter.
Thomas and Davis have yet to make statements on this case. Thomas is being represented by defense attorney William Kendrick who says co-conspirator testimony is the only thing that ties his client at the scene.
“As far as probable cause is concerned, I will say that I think the probable cause is slight,” Kendrick said. “We will get to other proceedings in the court where we’ll have to test that evidence a little bit more and the standard will be a lot higher.”
Private Attorney Alfonza Whitaker representing Green gave the following statement to WRBL:
“It was apparent that there were several conflicting confessions testimony as far as who the shooter was; however, they all placed themselves there at the scene so based on the theory of a party to a crime, I’m sure that there will be some plea deals discussed based on their criminal history among other things. It’s unfortunate that a life was taken but when you engage in criminal activity you can expect such.”
Alfonza Whitaker
All four co-defendants who appeared Wednesday morning were ordered to be held without bond; their cases have been bound over to superior court.
The seventh co-defendant, Jquan Williams, appeared in court Wednesday morning; however, his hearing was continued to Monday morning awaiting a conflict attorney.
Previous Reports
April 23, 2024: Another suspect charged in deadly Fort Benning Road shooting (wrbl.com)
April 18, 2024: Three more murder suspects arrested in Fort Benning Road shooting | WRBL
March 22, 2024: Arrest warrant issued for sixth suspect in Fort Benning Road shooting (wrbl.com)
March 7, 2024: ‘Armed and dangerous’ murder suspects wanted by Columbus police (wrbl.com)
Feb. 21, 2024: Second Fort Benning Road shooting suspect appears in Recorder’s Court (wrbl.com)
Feb. 19, 2024: WANTED: Columbus police search for third murder suspect in Fort Benning Road shooting (wrbl.com)
Jan. 30, 2024: Fort Benning Road shooting suspect appears in recorders court (wrbl.com)
Jan. 16/Feb. 14, 2024: UPDATE: CPD makes second arrest in deadly Fort Benning Rd. shooting (wrbl.com)
Jan. 24, 2024: Columbus suspect in 2022 Valentine’s Day murder appears in Recorder’s Court | WRBL
Jan. 12, 2024: CPD makes arrest in deadly 2022 Dollar General shooting (wrbl.com)
Jan. 8, 2024: CPD investigating shooting on Ft. Benning Road, one injured (wrbl.com)
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