VIDEO: CPD Hold Press Conference After Police-Involved Shooting

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – The investigation continues on the police involved shooting early Saturday morning.

Columbus city leaders meet at the Municipal Complex with Columbus Police to receive information on the shooting in hopes of being as transparent as possible.

Members of the city council and the police overview committee came to watch the body camera footage taken by officer Jared Booth, the officer involved in the shooting.

Rumors have been floating around about the details of the shooting, but with this meeting city leaders hope they can put these rumors to rest.

“We gave them an opportunity to look at the video and get an idea, so when their constituents confront them about some of the innuendos that are going on out there then they’ll have first-hand information,” said Columbus Mayor, Robert Smith.

One of these rumors is the victim, 24 year-old Raymond Davis, had a weapon placed on his person.

This is one rumor police are trying to disprove.

“The young man did have a pistol in his possession,” confirmed Smith.

This is the second officer-involved shooting in two years.

Previous issues with transparency gives the current administration a push to give citizens answers as they come.

“From a mayor and city council standpoint, it’s very important to be open and transparent, and we learned a lot from the last incident that occurred with the police officer and one of our citizens,” said Smith.

“…try and let them see and dispel some of the rumors that were out there that we are facing that created this anger within the community,” said Columbus Police Chief Oscar Lewis.

Officer Jared Booth is the policeman involved in the shooting and is now on paid administrative leave.

This isn’t his first time on leave with the department, as a few months ago he was put on suspension for questionable social media posts.

Regardless, CPD is thankful he turned his body cam on to provide information on this shooting.

“Based on what I’ve seen and what you will see, hopefully in the days to come, and the people in the community will see will help change the opinion they have of this incident,” said Lewis.

CPD has a meeting with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Monday and hopes to have some of the body camera footage out for the public within the next few days.