Two People Hurt in January Shooting at Shirley Winston Recreation Center, Following August 2025 Killing
What happened and where
Two people were injured in a shooting reported Sunday evening, January 18, 2026, at the Shirley Winston Recreation Center in east Columbus, Georgia. Police said the incident occurred in the 5000 block of Steam Mill Road, where the recreation center is located.
Both injured individuals were transported to a local hospital. Authorities have not released their names, ages or the extent of their injuries. The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation. No arrests were publicly announced in initial updates.
A second major incident at the same site in under five months
The January shooting follows a deadly incident at the same recreation center on August 29, 2025, when 22-year-old Jacarie Charles was fatally shot during what police later described as a robbery. Investigators said the incident was captured on the facility’s surveillance cameras and led to arrests as the case moved through the court process.
In September 2025, police announced arrests tied to the August homicide. Subsequent court proceedings expanded the case, with multiple suspects facing charges connected to the killing, including murder and firearm-related counts.
Public-safety measures and ongoing questions
The back-to-back incidents have intensified scrutiny of safety around a facility designed for youth programs, adult recreation and community events. Shirley Winston Recreation Center is part of a larger park complex with athletic fields and other amenities that typically draw families and neighborhood visitors.
City leaders previously approved increased patrol efforts in parks, including the deployment of dedicated park patrol officers, after a broader series of violent episodes at public recreation spaces in recent years. The January shooting occurred despite those steps, underscoring the challenge of preventing sudden acts of violence in open, multi-use public settings.
What is known—and what remains unclear
Confirmed: Two people were injured and taken to a hospital on January 18, 2026; the shooting location was the Shirley Winston Recreation Center area on Steam Mill Road.
Confirmed: The Columbus Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is handling the investigation.
Unclear: The circumstances that led to the gunfire, whether the victims were targeted or bystanders, and whether a suspect has been identified.
Anyone with information about the January 18, 2026, shooting has been urged to contact emergency services.
Police have not provided a timeline for further updates. The investigation remains active.