Video: Residents React To Ricky Ball Case

COLUMBUS, MISS. (WCBI)- District Attorney Scott Colom said a special prosecutor from the Attorney General’s office will present the Ricky Ball death to a Grand Jury.

A small crowd listened on as Colom made the announcement during a press conference.

In the crowd was some of Ball’s uncle, Albert Ball. He’s supporting Colom’s choice.

“We really just want the truth regardless of who’s the district attorney, but we’re waiting patiently, kind of getting a little discouraged, but we want to hear the truth, and it really won’t matter as long as the other DA is fair,” Ball said.

Lowndes County NAACP President Lavonne Harris believes Colom’s decision to bring in an independent prosecutor is a good decision for the community.
“I think this is a good move by the DA to turn it over to the attorney general’s office because, it’s been so outgoing with it and I know Scott has a lot of connections with the police department from before he became district attorney,” said Harris.

“I believe in our DA and he speaks the truth, and if they’ve reached that decision, I would stand behind it because I think it’s a very good move,”said Whirllie Bird, Columbus resident.

Transparency is one reason some people are agreeing with Colom.

“I feel Scott has did he job, he’s the DA, it was turned over to him, he went through it,” said Harris. “It was three binders, that’s a lot of information, and like I’m saying, If he continues to handle the case, I feel that the community would be looking for him to go and be on the Ball’s side.”

“It kind of takes it away from the power of our local officials and the local city, and just move it on,” said Bird.

However, some residents disagree. They believe Colom should have presented the case to a grand jury.

“We as citizens of Columbus, we elected him to do a job, but now you pushing it to someone else, that’s not what we voted you in for. We voted you in to handle stuff because everything you can’t throw off and give it to someone else,” said Antonio Long, Columbus resident.

During his press conference Colom also said he will turn all officer involved shootings over to the attorney general’s office while he is the district attorney.