Video: Is Columbus Still The Friendly City?

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Columbus is known as the friendly city.

However, many are complaining about the city’s crime rate, while others feel safe.

Just eight days into 2016, and there has been a homicide and several shooting incidents.

Curley Williams is the owner of Genesis Day Care, and said she doesn’t feel safe in Columbus.

“I am the owner of this day care and my children was asleep during nap time and we have a stray bullet that comes in our window,” Williams said.

Williams said 34 students were inside Genesis Day Care, sleeping when the bullet hit this window.

“I told my teachers lock it down, lock it down, lock it down,” she said.  “Make sure the kids are all safe, so at that point everybody went into a frantic. We all were running around trying to make sure the kids were safe, that there was nobody in there that had been hit or anything.”

Williams said she is just thankful no one was injured.

However, Genesis Pastor Darren Leach said he still feels safe.

“I’m a man of faith so you kinda can’t be afraid and faithful at the same time, you have got to pick one, and I chose to have faith,” Leach said.

The Columbus Police Department is now using social media to alert residents about incidents in the city.

Some residents have worried crime is on the increase. Interim Police Chief Fred Shelton said we may be hearing about crime more often but that doesn’t mean there has been an increase.

“I still say Columbus is a friendly city,” Shelton said. “In the areas where the gun fire is, there is a concern, however, people are still going about their normal day to day business.”

Shelton said officers continue to try to educate residents and increase patrols across the city.

“If you see it, say something about it,” he said. “If you hear it, pick up the phone and call us, do not try to address the issue on your own. Be a good witness for us, we want you to be our eyes and ears out there.”
Shelton said Columbus had two homicides in 2015 and arrests were made in both in cases.

Shelton and Councilman Marty Turner will meet with parents on Monday.