Columbus police chief praises public’s role in murder investigation

(Columbus) The Columbus Police Chief is praising the public for its role in the investigation of a murder case. Jose De Jesus Fuentes Hernandez, 42, of Columbus, was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. on July 4. Police Chief Dennis Weiner says police were able to identify a suspect thanks to the review of various video footage from the public.

“The public’s help was key to solving this case,” Weiner said. “A call was made through the media to anyone in downtown and southwest downtown who might have video footage, to bring cameras… cameras in their businesses… anything of that nature… to contact the Columbus Police Department. The response was very impressive. Without that help, we probably wouldn’t be here.”

The suspect was reportedly identified as Jonathan Javier Luna. A search warrant was issued for the 22-year-old’s Columbus residence and executed by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team. Police Chief Weiner noted that he was (quote) “disgusted” by the actions of a neighbor during the emergency response team’s search.

“One of the suspect’s neighbors, for some reason, felt the need to live stream (the emergency response team’s) actions on Facebook,” Weiner says. “And the information we had and observed actually shows that the suspect was watching. I hope that person is proud of their moment of fame, but I am very unhappy about their actions, which they apparently think are no big deal.”

The suspect was not home at the time. Weiner adds that if he was there, there could have been a second exit. Javier Luna was finally taken into custody Thursday afternoon and is charged with first-degree intentional homicide.