Columbia New Year’s Eve shooter arrested

by Joni Taylor
The Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Robert Butler, Martin Luther King Road, Columbia, on Friday, January 15 around noon.
After the shooting on New Year’s eve that left multiple bullet holes in Hair Trends by Patricia and Brookshires, the detectives lasered holes in the wall of Hair Trends, owned by Patricia Woodward, and determined the shots were fired from Butler’s residence. A search warrant was prepared for that residence and around 3:00 a.m. on January 1, 2016, deputies searched and found firearms that were confiscated. Butler was not at the residence at that time.
Around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, January 15, a suspicious vehicle was seen near the residence on Martin Luther King, but the vehicle fled the scene. A short time later a suspicious vehicle was spotted at the Hill Top Mobile station with two males present. When the deputy approached one man ran from the scene. The other man identified the runner as Robert Butler. After investigating, the sheriff’s office determined that Robert Butler was at a residence on Hwy 4. Butler was found at the residence and arrested without incident.
Robert Butler has been charged with Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain crimes. Butler was a felon which makes it illegal for him to own, possess or have a firearm at his residence. Also arrested was Butler’s girlfriend, Shamika Tatum. She was charged with Accessory After the Fact.
For more Caldwell Parish news, go to www.caldwellwatchman.com.