In the early morning hours of February 17, 2023, the life of Wiley "Lee" Jackson, a 63-year-old Black/African American male, was tragically cut short on the streets of Columbus, Georgia. Responding to a call about an injured person around 3:50 a.m., Columbus Police officers discovered Jackson lying at the intersection of Ewart Avenue and Forsyth Street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate attention of medics, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:45 a.m.
The investigation into Jackson's death was launched immediately, with authorities piecing together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The Muscogee County Coroner's office confirmed the cause of death as a homicide. Family and friends were left reeling from the sudden and violent loss of a man who had been a longtime resident of the Columbus community. His loved ones remembered him through a funeral service held on March 4, 2023, at the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Phenix City, Alabama, followed by a burial at the Alexander-Abercrombie Cemetery.
As of now, the case remains an active and ongoing investigation. The Columbus Police Department has not publicly identified any suspects in the shooting of Wiley Lee Jackson. No arrests have been made, and the circumstances surrounding the motive for the shooting have not been released to the public. Authorities have continued to appeal to the community for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case, urging anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. The search for answers and justice for Wiley Lee Jackson continues.
