Possible Columbia homicide witness arrested
Police arrested a possible witness to Monday night’s shooting on Sylvan Lane that killed one.
23-year-old Orlando Turner was arrested early Wednesday morning on Allen Street for unlawful use of a weapon. According to a probable cause statement by CPD, Turner admitted to being at the shooting scene that killed 24-year-old Gabrielle Rhodes Monday night “minutes prior” to it happening. Judge Michael Bradley ordered that Turner be held without bond Wednesday afternoon.
The statement said police tried to talk to Turner on Allen St. around 12:30 a.m. Police say Turner “was known to possess guns,” and as they approached him, could see something weighing down his front hoodie pocket as he removed his hands from it. Officers say they could see a gun inside the pocket, and found the weapon loaded after placing him in handcuffs.
Turner told police he did not have a concealed carry permit, which led to the unlawful use of a weapon felony charge.
Police also describe three men arrested at the Sylvan Ln. shooting scene – Johnathan Banks, Lajuan Martin and Joseph Luckett – as Turner’s “associates.” Those three were arrested for an earlier shooting on the Interstate 70/Highway 63 connector in Columbia Monday afternoon.
