Authorities make three arrests in connection to Gold Cup Bowling Center shooting in WR

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Earlier this week, three Houston County residents were arrested concerning a shooting that broke out at a bowling alley on Russell Parkway Sunday night.

The Warner Robins Police Department (WRPD) along with the U.S. Marshal Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, arrested the suspects that fired at each other in Gold Cup Bowling Center parking lot.

On April 25, 26, and 27, the departments arrested 18-year-old Philip Anthony Bango, 18-year-old Kolby Jace Tucker, both from Warner Robins, and 18-year-old Ja’rico Arnez Ogburn, from Centerville.

According to WRPD, around 12:30 a.m. on April 24, while two WRPD officers working security at the bowling alley responded to an incident on the east side of the parking lot, a shooting broke out on the other side.

Bango was allegedly firing at Tucker and Ogburn with a rifle, striking several vehicles in the process. Tucker and Ogburn fired back at Bango in retaliation using handguns.

David Rutherford, president of Gold Cup Bowling Center said that surveillance footage at the bowling alley showed the vehicles entering the parking lot 15 minutes earlier, around 12:15 a.m. That footage helped WRPD in their investigation.

The department also conducted interviews with witnesses, and through their investigation were able to make an identification of the suspects involved.

“It’s all to help protect us and the people around us, including the police officers,” Rutherford said.

He was not shocked by the fact that it happened at Gold Cup Bowling Center.

“We do serve the public, and unfortunately, lately things like this happen more and more often,” Rutherford said. “It’s not a reflection of the business; unfortunately, it’s a reflection of how society is right now.”

Police Chief John Wagner agreed.

“We’re disappointed that the youth feel that they need to resort to violence and using guns,” Wagner said.

He also said that incidents like this affect innocent people.

“It’s always the innocent that gets hurt,” Wagner said. “Randomly firing weapons that could kill through a parking lot is cowardice and absolutely reckless.”

Rutherford said that the arrest of the suspects involved sends an important message to the community to think twice before engaging in illegal activity.

“Maybe it’ll send the message, that here in Warner Robins [businesses,] if you break the law, you’ll be punished for it,” Rutherford said.

“[The police department] won’t stand for that; the city won’t stand for that, nor will our community,” Wagner said.

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