A man was shot and killed near a homeless camp off 2nd Avenue in Columbus Friday afternoon, triggering a major police response that shut down a stretch of roadway near 23rd Street. Officers descended on the area shortly before 4 p.m., and by early evening the scene remained active with investigators, patrol units and the coroner’s office all on hand.
Columbus police confirmed a death investigation was underway in the 2200 block of 2nd Avenue, according to WTVM, which reported that a large police presence had closed a section of roadway in the area. The outlet described the scene as including crime scene tape, several Columbus Police Department vehicles and a fire truck at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 23rd Street.
Separately, WRBL reported that several law enforcement personnel were at the scene near 2nd Avenue and 23rd Street, and that authorities had blocked off traffic at the intersection. Officials with the Columbus Police Department and Fire & EMS responded, and the station noted that the coroner was also present.
Shooting Reported Near Homeless Camp
According to Now Georgia, one person was shot and killed near a homeless camp off 2nd Avenue, with officers responding to the area near 23rd Street shortly before 4 p.m. in reference to the shooting. The outlet reported that a person was found dead at the scene, and that the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office was working to confirm the identity of the male victim.
A separate report from Columbus News and Weather confirmed that the scene had been active since approximately 4:20 p.m. Friday along 2nd Avenue near 22nd and 23rd streets, and that a crime scene had been established in the area, per CNAW2 News. A subsequent update from the same outlet said the Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.
Investigators Document Scene With 3D Laser Scanner
That update noted that multiple Columbus Police Department patrol officers and detectives were on scene, along with officials from the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office. Crime scene investigators were observed using a FARO 3D laser-scanning system to document the scene, the report said — a technology often used to create precise digital reconstructions of crime scenes for later analysis.
Additional details, including the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the shooting, had not been released as of Friday evening, according to the same report. It remains unclear how long the road closure near 2nd Avenue and 23rd Street will last or when the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office will confirm the victim’s identity.
