COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Four suspects made their first court appearance on Thursday in connection with a fatal shooting that happened inside an East Columbus recreation center in August.
The hearing did not last long because none of the four suspects had appointed defense attorneys.
20-year-old Elijah Smith, 21-year-old Cortez Turner, 18-year-old Christopher Culler, and 20-year-old JaMorris Baker appeared in Recorder's Court.
They are charged with murder in the Aug. 29 shooting of 22-year-old Jacarie Charles inside the Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center.
The hearing was rescheduled for next Wednesday because Smith, Turner, and Culler requested public defenders.
In a previous court testimony,18-year-old Navaris Johnson was identified as the alleged shooter by police and security video. Police say Baker provided the gun.
Police also say Smith, Turner, and Culler were present at the time of the shooting.
"And so oftentimes, where we see a group of people come to one place, they're all together," said District Attorney Don Kelly. "They seem to have a specific purpose. We can charge them all. And in front of a jury, we can convict them all if they find they don't have to pull the trigger. They just have to be a participant in some way, shape, or form."
Baker told Chief Judge David Ranieri that he had hired Anthony Johnson, who is involved in a Superior Court murder trial this week.
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