Hunt for Columbus murder suspect causes secured perimeter for multiple schools

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - Four Muscogee County schools were placed on a temporary secured perimeter in the late afternoon as a precaution during the nearby search for Jacquese Walker, Sr., a man accused of murdering his four-year-old son and injuring the child’s mother.

News Leader 9 spoke with one parent who said it was nerve-wracking for her not to know why the school placed the perimeter.

After a nearly 36-hour manhunt, Jaquese Walker, Sr. is now in police custody for the murder of his son, Jacquese Walker, Jr. and shooting and critically injuring the child’s mother.

The violent shooting happened Monday morning at Liberty Commons Apartment complex off of North Lumpkin Road. As police closed in on the dangerous fugitive, officials placed four schools in the Uptown area on a “temporary secured perimeter.”

According to the Muscogee County Schools’ Director of Communication, the perimeter was placed on Hardaway High, Clubview Elementary, Richards Middle, and Columbus High School during the apprehension.

“But even pulling up from 17th Street, I could hear the sirens going off, and obviously, it’s very concerning or scary to know my child’s in a school and, you know. And I’m glad that they went on lockdown/ Obviously, that’s very appropriate, and I definitely like that they took it serious,” said parent Terri Jordan.

News Leader 9 also spoke with a student who was inside Columbus High School at the time for an after-school club. He said it was alarming when the announcement came over the intercom that they were on lockdown.

“And then, after a while, we got up and looked out the window [be]cause, apparently, there was police and stuff walking around, and we were like ‘oh, God. What is happening?’” said Columbus High School student Jorge Gurrola.

Law enforcement captured the suspect, and the secured perimeter has been lifted since.

Walker, Sr. is set to appear in Columbus Recorder’s Court this Thursday at 9 a.m., facing numerous charges, including murder. At last check, the victim’s mom, who was shot, is in critical condition.

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