Local populace acting out. Update to this previous story.
One of two cars that ran through an unauthorized exit point at Fort Benning Thursday was stolen before shots were fired and authorities searched for up to five suspects.
No one was injured in the 2:25 p.m. shooting but residents of Patton Village were ordered to be vigilant while members of the Department of Emergency Services arrested one suspect and joined Columbus Police Department to search the area.
According to the Columbus Police Department, Cletus Richardson reported a 2005 Jeep Cherokee stolen about 4:35 p.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of Northstar Drive.
Richardson, 47, was driving through Fort Benning in another vehicle on Thursday. He spotted the stolen Jeep and a chase ensued, according to Columbus Police Capt. Gordon Griswould.
Traveling at a high rate of speed, both vehicles went through an exit point on Sand Hill where tires on both vehicles were flattened by the “tiger teeth,” according to Gary Jones, director of public affairs for the Maneuver Center of Excellence. Both vehicles continued toward the new elementary school construction near Patton Village. Three to five men left the first vehicle and ran into the wood line. That’s when shots are believed to have been fired.
Richardson, the driver of the chase vehicle, was taken into custody. A handgun was found in each of the vehicles.
Griswould said the owner attempted to keep up with the stolen vehicle when he followed it onto the post. “He stayed in the vehicle after the actions occurred on the post,” he said.
Griswould said no other suspects have been caught in connection with the shooting on post. “We have been coordinating with Fort Benning,” he said.
Jones said authorities gave the “all clear” notice about 6:45 p.m., and didn’t believe that any suspects were still on post.
“Law enforcement had done a pretty thorough search and they were pretty convinced that they headed back over the border to Columbus,” he said. “They just didn’t know that for a fact. We are telling people to be cautious. For all intents and purposes, everything is back to normal now.”