An argument on a vacant lot in Columbus, Georgia, ended with gunfire on the afternoon of Friday, October 23, 2026, leaving one man dead. The victim was identified by the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office as Robert Haygood, a 62-year-old male. His family was notified of his death, but little has been publicly shared about the man he was, the life he lived, or the connections he had to the community.
His death is being investigated as a homicide, leaving those who knew him to mourn a life cut short by violence.
The fatal encounter occurred shortly before 4:00 p.m. on a property near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and 23rd Street. According to reports, Haygood was involved in an altercation with two other individuals in an area near a homeless encampment. During the dispute, he was shot multiple times. The Columbus Police Department received calls about the shooting and officers were dispatched to the scene. A heavy law enforcement presence, including patrol officers, detectives, and personnel from Columbus Fire & EMS, quickly converged on the 2200 block of 2nd Avenue, closing a section of the roadway to traffic.
When first responders arrived, they found Robert Haygood unresponsive on the vacant lot. Despite any efforts to render aid, his injuries were too severe. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan pronounced him dead at the scene at 4:44 p.m. The area was secured with crime scene tape as investigators began the painstaking work of processing the scene. Detectives with the police department’s Violent Crimes Unit were observed focusing their attention near a tent in a wooded area where people are known to congregate. Crime scene investigators utilized a 3D laser-scanning system to meticulously document the entire area in detail.
The investigation into Robert Haygood’s death was immediately launched by the Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit. As of late October 2026, no arrests had been made, and no suspects had been publicly identified or described by the authorities. Investigators have not released any further details about the nature of the altercation that preceded the shooting or a possible motive. The two individuals reportedly involved in the dispute with Haygood have not been named.
Following the on-scene investigation, Haygood’s body was scheduled to be transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to officially determine the cause of death and to recover any potential evidence from his wounds. This is a standard procedure in homicide investigations to assist prosecutors in building a case.
The case remains open and active. The lack of information about suspects or a motive leaves many questions unanswered for the community and for the family and friends of Robert Haygood. The shooting occurred in a mixed-use area with commercial properties and vacant lots, a part of the city that, like many urban areas, faces challenges with homelessness and poverty.
The investigation into the homicide of Robert Haygood is ongoing. Authorities have not announced any reward for information. The Columbus Police Department urges anyone with knowledge of the shooting, the events leading up to it, or the individuals involved to come forward. The department has not specified a particular detective or tip line for this case, but tips on any crime can typically be submitted to the main police department line.
