4 suspects in Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center shooting appear in court

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Four of the five suspects in the August 29 shooting at Shirley B. Winston Recreation Center appeared in Recorder’s Court Monday afternoon.

Elijah Smith, 20; Cortez Turner, 21; Christopher Culler, 18; and JaMorris Baker, 20, face murder charges in the death of 22-year-old Jacarie Charles.

Police identified 18-year-old Navaris Johnson as the alleged shooter.

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He appeared in court last month. Investigators said Baker provided the gun.

According to police, all five suspects, along with a sixth person, arrived and left the recreation center together after the shooting inside the gym.

The four suspects pleaded not guilty and were ordered held without bond. Chief Recorder’s Court Judge David Ranieri bound the case over to Superior Court.

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Baker’s attorney, Keyanna Marshall, argued her client should not face a murder charge.

“He’s not the person that’s identified as the shooter,” Marshall said. “He was forthcoming to law enforcement, and there is no evidence at this time that he had a motive against the deceased.”

Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Don Kelly said security video played a key role in the investigation.

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“The video that I’ve seen, it’s very good quality. It has audio as well, which helps us tremendously in communicating,” Kelly said. “It doesn’t pick up every communication because background noise can drown it out. But it is good quality video and certainly made a big difference in the police being able to move forward with this case.”

Kelly told WRBL News 3 that the investigation is ongoing and at least one more person is likely to face charges.

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