In the early morning hours of Sunday, February 25, 2024, the life of 18-year-old Earkus D. Porter Jr., a Black male from Columbus, Georgia, was tragically cut short. The incident unfolded in the Belvedere Park neighborhood, specifically in the 700 block of Parkview Drive. Porter sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a local hospital's emergency room, where he was pronounced deceased at 2:21 a.m.
The Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit immediately began an investigation into the homicide.
For nearly six months, the case remained under investigation until a break led to an arrest. On August 7, 2024, Columbus investigators took 19-year-old Marquis Poole into custody in connection with Porter's death. Poole was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime. He has since entered a plea of not guilty to the charges and is currently awaiting trial.
The tragedy for the Porter family was compounded later that year. Earkus's younger brother, 15-year-old Earkavion Lee, also became a victim of gun violence. In a separate and unrelated incident on September 19, 2024, Lee was fatally shot after getting off his school bus. This second loss deepened the sorrow for the family and the Columbus community. The investigation into Earkus D. Porter Jr.'s death is ongoing as authorities continue to seek any additional information that may be relevant to the case.
