A Columbus man is facing felony charges after a mid-May shooting on Lakeside Drive left one person in the hospital with serious injuries, according to police. Investigators say they later identified 22-year-old Mettelus Epps as a suspect and charged him with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The gunfire was reported on May 14 in the 3600 block of Lakeside Drive, authorities said.
Police account
According to CNAW2News, officers were dispatched to the 3600 block of Lakeside Drive around 11:46 a.m. on May 14. When they arrived, they found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds who was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit took over the case, and detectives later secured warrants for Epps. Police say he was taken into custody on June 4.
Local context
Local TV coverage showed a sizable police response at the scene on May 14. WTVM reported multiple Columbus Police vehicles and crime scene tape blocking off part of the 3600 block as officers worked the case. The arrest lands amid a rough stretch of violent crime in Columbus this spring, including an April fatal shooting on Victory Drive reported by the Ledger-Enquirer.
Charges and what they mean…