Three arrested in murder of missing Columbus man
By Dispatch Staff Report 6 hours ago
Lowndes County investigators have arrested three people in what they believe to be the murder of a man missing since last summer.
Joseph Lane Purcell, 29, and Allan Michael Farley, 27, have both been charged with murder for the death of Columbus resident James Ryan Taylor, according to a Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office press release. Deputies also arrested Deborah Johnston, 55, who has been charged with accessory after the fact.
Taylor’s family last saw him July 14, 2020, according to Taylor’s mother, Laura Taylor. He was reported missing to Columbus Police Department, which has been searching for him primarily on The Island, where he was last seen at the Plaza Hotel the same night. His disappearance sparked local searches and prompted the family to offer a $5,000 reward for information on his whereabouts in February.
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STARKVILLE â Five males from Lowndes County have been charged with a drive-by shooting Tuesday night at a Starkville city park.
The Starkville Police Department responded to McKee Park at 9:11 p.m. Tuesday April 20 to a call of shots fired. According to spokesman Sgt. Brandon Lovelady, it appears that shots were fired related to an argument about a basketball game and no one was injured.
The responding officers located the weapon used in the shooting as well as other weapons in the car. Police arrested Jaylen Harrison,18; Karon Hawk, 19; Jamarkus Hood, 19; Antonio Roland, 17; and Levaris Williams, 19; and charged them each with drive-by shooting and gambling. All five are from Columbus.
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STARKVILLE â A 16-year-old male has been charged as an adult in connection with a Saturday night shooting in north Starkville.
Police patrolling the Westside Park area Saturday April 17 heard shots fired in the area of the Brookville Garden Apartments around 9:30 p.m. Officers responded to the apartments and found one juvenile male who had been shot in the thigh. He was airlifted to a hospital out of the area for medical attention.
The Starkville Police Department charged Cameron Jones, 16, of Starkville, was charged Monday April 19 with aggravated assault.
This incident remains under active investigation and officials say more arrests are expected.