A routine traffic stop following reports of gunfire near Warren Williams Apartments in Columbus on Sunday evening led to the arrest of four teenagers and the recovery of multiple firearms, one of which had been stolen from Phenix City, Alabama, according to Columbus police.
The Details: On the night of September 8, an officer with the Columbus Police Department pulled over a speeding vehicle as it left the Warren Williams Apartments complex shortly after receiving reports of shots fired in the area.
The vehicle, which also had improper headlights, was occupied by five people. During the traffic stop, police discovered several firearms inside the car, including a stolen one traced to Phenix City.
Police said that all five of the car’s occupants were underage and prohibited from possessing firearms. One individual fled the scene and remains at large.
Arrests Made: Kameron Shelton, 17, was taken into custody at the scene. He faces multiple charges, including possession of firearms, theft by receiving stolen property, theft by receiving stolen property from another state, improper headlights, and improper parking. Shelton’s three other companions—a 13-year-old, 15-year-old, and another 17-year-old—were also arrested and transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center. They were charged with minor in possession of firearms and theft by receiving stolen property.
What’s Next: The police have not released further information on the individual who fled the scene, and the investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officials are working to gather more details on the circumstances surrounding the shots fired and to locate the suspect who remains at large.
This incident marks another case of illegal firearm possession among teens, with the investigation likely to reveal more about the source of the weapons.