Former Columbus cop accused in fatal shooting indicted

A former Columbus police officer who fatally shot a man last fall has been indicted on a manslaughter charge.

Former Columbus Police Officer Canyon Boykin was indicted by a grand jury in the shooting death of Ricky Ball, according to his attorney Jim Waide.

While Waide confirmed Boykin had been indicted, he did not know the charge. However, Waide said a prosecutor told him Boykin had been indicted for manslaughter. Waide said Boykin has not yet been served with the indictment. Boykin is also being represented by Jeff Reynolds with the Police Benevolent Association.

On Oct. 16, Boykin and two other officers attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which Ball, 26, was a passenger. The driver did not stop, and Ball jumped from the vehicle.

Officers pursed Ball on foot and, according to city officials, he and Boykin struggled. At some point during or after the struggle, Ball was fatally shot by Boykin. Details from the incident have not been released by officials. None of the officers had their body cameras turned on during the pursuit.

Officials never released whether any less-than-lethal measures were taken before Ball was shot.

District Attorney Scott Colom turned the case over to the Attorney General's office. When reached Thursday afternoon, Colom noted he had recused himself from the case and referred all questions to the AG's office.

Racheal Ring, spokesperson for Attorney General Jim Hood, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Jennifer Riley-Collins, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, issued a statement Thursday afternoon, praising Colom's decision in asking the AG to handle the case.

“District Attorney Scott Colom got it right by asking for outside review," Riley-Collins said in the statement. "By doing so, he sent a message that falls in line with what the ACLU of Mississippi has been calling leadership to embrace. It is the same message that the public has been asking for across this nation.   Transparency and accountability are the standard which should always be applied. The state of Mississippi should ensure that independent investigations and special prosecutors are used every time there is a police-involved death of a citizen.”

After the shooting, all of the officers were placed on leave.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation handled the case.

MBI spokesperson Warren Strain did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Boykin turned in his resignation two weeks after the shooting, but the City Council voted 5-1 to relieve him of his duties. Boykin had an opportunity to appeal the council's decision to the civil service board but did not. He has filed a federal lawsuit against the department for wrongful termination.

In the lawsuit, Boykin said he shocked Ball with a stun gun, and then saw while Ball was lying on the ground that he had a handgun. Boykin said that Ball recovered from the shock and began to run again, turning as if to shoot the officer. Boykin said that’s when he shot Ball. Hit twice by bullets, Ball was taken to a local hospital and died from blood loss.

A pistol that had been reported stolen from a Columbus police officer’s home was found near Ball’s body, as was a substance believed to be marijuana, authorities said. Boykin says Ball also threw away some cocaine he was carrying during the chase.

Investigators have released no findings on Boykin’s claims.

Officials said at the time that Boykin was terminated for three reasons. First, Boykin did not turn his body camera or recorder on prior to the shooting. Secondly, Boykin violated the city's social media policy after the shooting. And third, Boykin's girlfriend was riding in the police car without permission from Boykin's supervisors.

Joe Dillon, public information officer for the city, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or 601-961-7303. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.