In the late-night hours of April 2, 2026, a trip to a gas station in Columbus, Georgia, turned fatal for Calvin Mitchell, a 37-year-old Black male. He had just pulled into the parking lot of the Liberty gas station on Victory Drive with his girlfriend when he was ambushed. As he exited his vehicle, he was shot multiple times. The incident occurred around 11:50 p.m., shattering the nightly calm. First responders were dispatched to the scene and found Mitchell with life-threatening injuries.
He was quickly transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional for medical attention.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Calvin Mitchell succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight on April 3, 2026. An examination by the Muscogee County Coroner's Office revealed that he had sustained approximately six to seven gunshot wounds. The investigation into the shooting was swiftly launched by the Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit. It was reported that there was at least one witness to the tragic event, and authorities began to piece together the circumstances that led to the city's third homicide of the year. Mitchell, who had been residing at a nearby hotel on Victory Drive, was seemingly targeted as his girlfriend was not injured in the attack.
The investigation led to a swift arrest in the case. Through a coordinated effort between the Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit and the SWAT Team, a suspect was taken into custody. Fifty-year-old Dwayne Quarles was arrested and is facing multiple charges in connection with Calvin Mitchell's death. The charges brought against him include Murder, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Quarles was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Recorder's Court on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The case remains under investigation as the community awaits further details to emerge from the legal proceedings.
