Violence broke out over the holiday weekend in the city of Columbus leaving four dead, one injured, and police investigating eight crime scenes.
Violence began when gunfire erupted around 5 P.M. on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in the 4800 block of Hearthstone Drive leaving 21-year-old Jacquez Tremayne Banks deceased on scene. Neighbors spoke with CNAW2News about the incident stating they had heard three to four shots before first responders arrived.
The violence continued hours later when a person was injured by gunfire in the 4500 block of Old Cusseta Road Thursday afternoon.
Around 7:20 P.M., Columbus police were called to a shooting and crash in the area of Forrest and Avalon roads. When they arrived, they located a male subject suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and also located a multi-vehicle wreck that was reportedly caused by the suspects fleeing the scene of the shooting. The man, identified as 21-year-old Zandre Battle-Thomas, was pronounced deceased.
Hours later, on Friday, July 4, 2025, between one and three in the morning, police responded to multiple homes being damaged by gunfire on Newick Drive, Mill Branch Road, and Juniper Avenue. The same day, during the afternoon hours, police responded to a shots fired with damage to property on Doyle Avenue.
The gunfire continued on Saturday, July 5, 2025, around noon, when 51-year-old Donnie Hand was shot and killed at a residence in the 2800 block of Reese Road by his stepson, identified as 35-year-old Christopher Popp. Popp was arrested and charged with murder.
Several hours later, police responded to the 400 block of 20th Avenue, off Cusseta Road, where they found a woman, later identified as 53-year-old Mozelle Barbee, shot and killed. Barbee was pronounced dead on scene, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. 65-year-old Jimmie Lee Thomas was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime.
CNAW2News records show this weekend is the third deadliest holiday weekend in Columbus since 2021: in 2021, during the President’s Day weekend (February 17-20), five people were killed and twelve were injured; in 2024, during the Fourth of July weekend (July 5-8), four people were killed and four were injured.
Following this weekend, according to our records, 47 people have been shot in Columbus, with there being 13 murders.
The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit remains investigating each case. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 706-225-3161.
