Columbus Officer Fired, Two Others Suspended After Shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The Columbus city council fired officer Canyon Boykin on Friday afternoon and suspended two others.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith tells WCBI Boykin submitted his resignation but the council chose to fire Boykin.

Boykin, along with Columbus police officers Johnny Branch and Yolanda Young attempted to pull over a vehicle on October 16th.

A passenger in that vehicle, Ricky Ball, ran from police once it stopped.

According to Columbus Police Chief Tony Carleton, officers attempted to arrest Ball “which resulted in gunfire.”

Carleton says police lost sight of Ball after the shooting. The Columbus man was found about 25 minutes after the shooting.

On Friday afternoon councilmen suspended Branch and Young for 30 days. They were also placed on six months probation and will have to take a remedial class, according to Smith.

Carleton has asked the F.B.I. to handle the police department’s internal investigation.

The officers are entitled to a civil service hearing.

Categories: Local News

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