COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — The man accused of killing a Columbus woman after a high-speed chase on Sunday now sits behind bars.
Tyrone Vaughn, 20, was arrested and charged with the following:
- Homicide by vehicle in 1st degree
- Homicide by vehicle in 2nd degree
- Possession of a firearm or knife
- Fleeing or attempting to elude
- DUI- driving under the influence
- Theft by receiving stolen property
- Willful obstruction of law enforcement
- Hit and Run: Duty of driver to stop
- Reckless driving
- Failure to obey signs or construction
- Affixing materials that reduce or increase light transmission
- Speeding
- Failure to maintain lane
- Too fast for conditions
- Failure to obey stop sign
Georgia State Patrol was involved in the high-speed chase Sunday. Based on our previous reports, Vaughn’s car rear-ended a Buick ultimately killing the passenger, Veronica Shipp, 46.
Monday, Chief Judge of Recorders Court David Ranieri continued Vaughn’s preliminary hearing to May 3. Before continuing his hearing, Recorders Court Assistant District Attorney Nick Hud said the state was requesting Vaughn’s charges to be upgraded to murder.
Public Defender Sheneka Terry said Vaughn would be seeking higher counsel and asked the hearing to be continued as she would not be representing him.
WRBL has reached out to Georgia State Patrol for more information on the cause of the chase and details surrounding Vaughn’s arrest. WRBL also reached out to Columbus Police for more information; however, no additional details were provided as they were not involved in the chase. We will update you once we have more information.
UPDATE 2:12 p.m. 04/24/2024: The Georgia State Patrol released the following statement to WRBL:
On 4/23/2023, a Georgia State Trooper attempted to stop a vehicle for traffic violations. The driver of the vehicle began to flee and initiated a pursuit with the Trooper. The vehicle continued westbound on 17th Street at a high rate of speed and traveling recklessly. The Trooper lost visual of the vehicle and was about to terminate the pursuit. He observed smoke a few intersections ahead and continued in the direction of the fleeing vehicle. The Trooper arrived at the intersection and observed that the driver of the vehicle that was fleeing, stuck another vehicle in the rear at 17th Street and 10th Avenue. The driver of the vehicle that was fleeing exited his vehicle and fled from the scene on foot. The Trooper observed a citizen going to the other vehicle and another Trooper was arriving on scene. The driver that fled on foot was later located in a dumpster and was taken into custody by Troopers and Columbus Police Department. EMS cleared the suspect driver on scene. The occupants of the vehicle that was struck were transported to the hospital. The front seat passenger of the vehicle was pronounced deceased by the Muscogee Coroner’s Office at Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, GA. A Georgia State Patrol K9 was deployed at the scene where the driver fled on foot. The K9 located a loaded handgun that was hidden by the driver. The handgun was reported stolen out of Columbus, GA. The suspect driver was taken to the Piedmont Hospital in Columbus where he was medically cleared. The suspect driver was transported to the Muscogee County Jail for booking.
Charges are as follows: Window Glazing, Failure to Maintain Lane, Speeding, Too Fast for Conditions, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign, Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device, Reckless Driving, DUI Less Safe, Obstruction, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of Certain Crimes, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Homicide by Vehicle (2 Counts), Possession of Stolen Property, and Murder.
No further comments, at this time. This investigation is still ongoing.
