Video: Columbus Officer Involved Shooting Update

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COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)–Columbus city leaders are releasing a little more information surrounding the recent officer involved shooting resulting in the death of a Columbus man.

Thats in an effort to put to rest whats being called misinformation and complaints from residents of the community, that an MBI investigation is moving too slow.

Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and Police Chief Tony Carlton are asking residents of the Friendly City to be patient and urging them not rush to judgement in the wake of the shooting death of 26 year old Ricky Javenta Ball. Information about the investigation will be released by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

“As we receive information in the mayors office and the chief of police department concerning individuals that live in the community that have some information we are giving those names to MBI,” said Mayor Robert Smith/Columbus.

We now do know that the driver of the vehicle Ball was riding in was Shannon Gayle Brewer of Columbus.

Brewer was given citations for driving an uninsured vehicle, improper equipment, and careless driving. Mayor Smith says she is not an employee of the city.

“She is not on the list of confidential informants with the city or the county. There were also some allegations made that the officers involved in the shooting had a prior conviction of murdering someone and thats not true,” said Mayor Robert Smith.

Although identified by other media outlets, Police Chief Tony Carlton refuses to identify the three officers that are on paid administrative leave.

“We don’t want to put something out there and try to get it back in the box. If we give something wrong. So you know they are asking us and its their protocol that they don’t release this information. So we certainly don’t want to go against and we don’t want to get in the way of it,” said Chief Tony Carlton/Columbus.

Ward 5 Councilman Kabbir Karriem says he’s not rushing to judgement but says he’s troubled about some of the things he’s discovering on his own.

“I’m very concerned about the details that are coming out. I still want the community to remain calm until all the facts are given. But I have some deep concerns about information that I have personally been investigating,” said Karrriem.

Karriem says he identifies with Ball and will be watching the case closely. Meanwhile Columbus Police Chief Tony Carlton did voice his concerns for the citizens of the community and for the safety of his officers.

“It does draw a little but more concern and it also, you know makes the officers more aware of their surroundings and become more suspicious about whats going on,” said Chief Tony Carlton.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Columbus Police Department.