The three Columbus police officers involved in the shooting death of Ricky Ball were equipped with body cameras but none of the cameras had been activated prior to or during the Oct. 16 shooting.
The officers involved in the shooting were Canyon Boykin, Johnny Branch and Yolanda Young, according to Raymond Hackler, public information officer with the Columbus Police Department. Authorities have previously stated that the three officers have been placed on indefinite leave pending the results of investigations into Ball's death.
Hackler sent out a press release Wednesday afternoon that contained more details about the incident.
The release states that authorities recovered a 9mm handgun "within arm's reach" of Ball after he had been shot. That 9mm, authorities say, had been reported stolen in August from the residence of a Columbus police officer.
Ball, 26, was a passenger in a vehicle CPD attempted to pull over at approximately 10:08 p.m. on Oct. 16, near 22nd Street North and 15th Avenue North. Police Chief Tony Carleton has said the stop was initiated because of careless driving, no light above the license plate and lack of insurance.
"When the suspect vehicle stopped, the passenger, Ricky Ball, jumped out of the car and attempted to flee," Hackler's release states. "Officers attempted to arrest Ball which resulted in gunfire."
Authorities have not said what led to the gunfire. Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant has told The Dispatch that Ball was shot twice -- once in the upper body, once in the lower body.
"Officers lost sight of Mr. Ball following the shooting," the release states.
Authorities discovered Ball about 10:30 p.m. between two houses along 14th Avenue North, approximately a block and a half from the vehicle he had been riding in.
"A handgun and suspected illegal narcotics were found beside where Mr. Ball had collapsed," the release states.
Authorities say the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting forensics on both the weapon and suspected narcotics to determine if Ball ever possessed the items.
Ball was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, where he was pronounced dead at 11:12 p.m. Friday. Merchant has said he died of blood loss.
The release Hackler put out Wednesday evening stated that only one camera recorded events "approximately 30 seconds after the shooting."
"All of the videos recorded that night by CPD have been turned over to MBI investigators," the release states.
Authorities say an "unauthorized civilian ride-along passenger" was in the vehicle with the CPD officers who initiated the traffic stop. That person's name is Alisha Stanford, according to CPD. Her presence was not explained in Hackler's release.
Authorities also identified the driver of the car Ball was riding in as Shannon Brewer. Authorities have not said if she was arrested or issued citations.
The release states that the firearm discovered near Ball that night was a Taurus 9mm. It was one of seven firearms reported stolen from a CPD officers Columbus home on Fourth Street North. Five of the weapons were stolen from the residence on Sept. 14. Two of the weapons -- including the 9mm found near Ball -- were stolen from the residence on Aug. 5, according to Hackler's release
If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven't spend the night with a mosquito. - African Proverb
