Accused Father out on $50K Bond
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 50 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | JUNE 8, 2017 A ‘sweet soul’ lost in a ‘dark world’ Friends remember Drew Johnson Accused for his kindness, pitching acumen father out BY ISABELLE ALTMAN [email protected] on $50K bond hris Wright and his friend Drew John- Judge: Larry Johnson Cson were at a local fair in 2001 when they approached one of the not a flight risk games where players threw DISPATCH STAFF REPORT balls trying to knock over milk bottles to win stuffed A Lowndes County man accused of animal prizes. Johnson told killing his son is out on bond. Wright to “give the man Larry Johnson, 69, posted $50,000 some money.” bond Wednesday afternoon following The once star pitcher for his arraignment in Lowndes Coun- the New Hope High School ty Justice Court before Judge Peggy baseball team proceeded Phillips. not only to knock over each Sheriff’s deputies arrested Johnson of the milk bottles, but to on Wednesday and charged him with call which one he would murder in the shooting death of his hit before he did, throwing son, 40-year-old Mitchell Drew John- the balls hard enough they son, at their home at 46 River Lane in hit the canvas behind the southern Lowndes County. Authori- bottles with a loud pop, ties found the body at about 9:15 a.m. Wright remembered. Every Tuesday. They said the suspect called time Johnson won a stuffed 911 Tuesday morning — roughly 12 animal, he turned and gave hours after the alleged incident oc- it to one of the children in curred — and reported he had shot, the growing crowd that had and maybe killed, his son. gathered to watch him play. Drew Johnson’s body has been tak- “That was my friend,” en to the State Crime Lab in Jackson Wright said. “I’ll love and for autopsy. miss him until I die. That Before setting bond at Wednesday’s was Drew.” arraignment, Phillips said she didn’t consider the suspect a flight risk, due Life cut short to his being a property owner. At 40, Johnson’s life was Larry Johnson’s attorney, Tim Hud- cut short this week after son, declined to comment. an apparent altercation at his home in southern Courtesy photo Lowndes County. Deputies Forty-year-old Drew Johnson, lifelong Lowndes County resident and star of the New Hope with the Lowndes County High School baseball team in the early 1990s, was killed in a shooting Monday night in Sheriff’s Office were called his home. His friend Brad Haines called him “a sweet friend and a sweet brother.” to the home Drew shared his with 69-year-old father He wanted to be that hero that went through all that Larry Johnson Tuesday where responders found adversity but came out of it and was somebody that people Drew dead from a gunshot wound. He and his father would look at and say, ‘Hey, I admire that guy’” had apparently gotten into Brad Haines, longtime friend of Drew Johnson a fight Monday night when Larry allegedly shot him. started as a joke in John- a serious drug addiction other’s parents growing up, The news of Johnson’s son’s 20s when he became that Johnson never shook, played baseball together in sudden violent death sad- a big fan of rap music, Haines said. high school, partied togeth- dened those who knew him said Johnson’s friend Brad “He was a sweet soul er in college and remained Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff Haines. that got lost in a dark friends throughout their Larry Johnson walks handcuffed back — whether it was from his into the Lowndes County Adult Deten- 20s. In the last eight or so legendary baseball skills In later years, Johnson world,” Haines said. tion Center after his arraignment at at New Hope or his Face- wanted to be known by Haines and Johnson years, their lives “took dif- the Justice Court Wednesday. He was book personality “Diamond that name. That preference grew up together in New ferent paths,” Haines said, released Wednesday afternoon after Parrot” — a nickname that went hand-in-hand with Hope. They knew each See JOHNSON, 3A posting $50,000 bond. Caledonia Willis provided a teacher’s sense of order to Caledonia board mayor’s race Former teacher steps down after five still undecided terms in town government BY SLIM SMITH BY SLIM SMITH and began the first of her [email protected] [email protected] five teams on the town’s governing board. The effort to confirm the election renda Willis attended “I guess teaching is in her last meeting as a result of the mayor our blood, too,” said Willis, INsiDE Caledonia alderman of Caledonia will B who spent 28 years teach- stretch into two ■ SLIMANTICS: Tuesday evening. After two ing in the Caledonia school days — and pos- The Count of decades on the board, she Caledonia. system. “Both my daughters sibly longer — af- Page 6A did not run for re-election ter three separate this year. teach here in Caledonia, too, counts of the votes While she confesses and when I think about the Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff has produced three different vote politics “is sort of a family 20 years I’ve spent on the board, one of my big priori- Brenda Willis sits in her designated board room chair Tues- tallies in a razor-thin race between business,” she still sees her- day at Caledonia Town Hall on her last day on the Board of incumbent Bill Lawrence and chal- self primarily as a teacher, ties was always the kids.” Aldermen. She served on the board for 20 years and did not See CALEDONIA, 8A 20 years after she retired See WILLIS, 8A seek re-election in 2017. WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What is arboriculture? sity for Women’s Project MEETINGS Friday CHEW, fruit and vegetable June 12: Colum- 2 In 1891 what did J.A. Broudie from ■ Friday Night Jams: the English fishing town of Bridport Twister and face painting. bus Municipal The West Point/Clay suggest be added to football goal- The market at Second School District, posts? County Arts Council pres- Street and Second Avenue board of trust- 3 Which North American river was ents Friday Night Jams North is open Mondays ees, 8:30 a.m., discovered by French explorer Jacques at 7 p.m. at the Louise 4-6 p.m. and Thursdays Cartier in 1534? Brandon Central Jessie Horton Campbell Arts Center, and Saturdays 7-10 a.m. 4 Which long running British band 235 Commerce St., West Services Fifth grade, Caledonia released albums entitled A Quick One For more information, call and Live at Leeds? Point. Free. Visit wpccac. 662-328-6305. June 15: High 79 Low 57 5 In 2000, which U.S. internet service com. ■ Puppy Foam Party: Lowndes County provider acquired Time-Warner for 4 Paws for a Cause Board of Super- Mostly sunny $165 billion? Saturday hosts this fundraiser for visors, 9 a.m., Full forecast on Answers, 8B page 2A. ■ Sizzling Second Sat- the Columbus-Lowndes Lowndes County urday: Columbus’ Hitch- Humane Society from 1-3 Courthouse ing Lot Farmers’ Market, p.m. at the Animal Clinic June 15: Colum- INSIDE open 7-10 a.m., offers of Columbus, 3157 High- Business 4A Dear Abby 6B pony rides and a petting way 45 N. Dog paths and bus Light and Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A zoo plus a visit by the “spaw” pedicures offered. Water Board, Comics 6B Opinions 6A Columbus Police Depart- Visit 4pawsforacause. Akeem Brown works for noon, 420 4th 138TH YEAR, NO. 76 Crossword 8B ment, Mississippi Univer- us.events/html. JTB Furniture. Ave. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2017 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “He kind of calmed down his leg kick, he’s calmed down his bat in terms of the waggle he had and he’s picked up some really big hits.” Alleged leaker’s parents fear Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro, Trump will be tough on case Thursday talking about Elijah MacNamee. Story, 1B. ‘I think they’re going to try to make an example out of her because of the A THOUSAND WORDS political climate right now’ THE ASSOCIatED PRESS A judge has scheduled a hearing Thursday for Win- AUGUSTA, Ga. — A ner in U.S. District Court young woman charged to determine whether to with leaking U.S. govern- allow her to be released on ment secrets to a reporter bond pending trial. She has poses no flight risk if she’s been jailed in neighboring released from pre-trial con- Lincoln County since her finement, her parents said arrest, according to a book- Wednesday, though they ing report released by the fear prosecutors will seek to sheriff. use the case to send a tough “She’s not a flight risk,” message from the Trump said Gary Davis, Winner’s administration. stepfather. “Everybody in It will be difficult for America knows what she 25-year-old Reality Winner looks like at this point. She’s to get a fair trial if her case never ran away from any- becomes “this big thing thing in her life. She’s not a where we’re not going to violent person. She has no tolerate leakers,” Winner’s record. There’s no reason mother, Billie Winner-Da- to hold her.” vis, told The Associated Prosecutors have not Press in an interview. named the news outlet, but “I think they’re going to her arrest was announced try to make an example out Monday as the website The of her because of the politi- Intercept reported it had cal climate right now,” Win- obtained a classified Nation- ner-Davis said.