In the days leading up to Christmas, a sense of tragedy befell a Columbus, Georgia community. On the evening of December 22, 2024, 9-year-old Lakeith Livingston, a young Black male, was fatally wounded by a gunshot. The incident occurred in the 1300 block of Floyd Road, where Columbus police officers responded to a call about a shooting at approximately 8:36 p.m.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered the young boy suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services promptly transported him to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, Lakeith was pronounced dead at 9:03 p.m.
The Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit immediately began an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts led to a swift arrest in the case. On December 24, 2024, a 13-year-old was taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Due to the suspect's age, their identity was not publicly released. The teenager was charged with involuntary manslaughter as investigators continued to work to determine the exact circumstances that led to the fatal shooting.
