Massive Trail Ride Was Peaceful; But Attendees Later Involved in Fatal Shooting

Thousands of folks descended on La Grange last weekend for the Real Deal Family Reunion Trail Ride.

The event took place on property off FM 3011 in the Nechanitz area. Deputies from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office worked security during the event.

“It went fairly smoothly, considering we had (thousands of) folks out there,” said Lt. David Beyer of the Sheriff’s Office. “It was big, but it was under control.”

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said the revelers left quite a bit of litter along FM 3011. He sent out a crew Monday to pick up the trash. Organizers say they plan to hold the event in the La Grange area again next year.

There were some rumors about a shooting at the trail ride early Sunday morning, but it did not take place in Fayette County.

The Columbus Police Department reported that officers responded to a shooting in the 1600 block of Fannin St. in Columbus shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. The report said a male victim, 26-year-old Keandre M. Hurd of Columbus, was taken to Columbus Community Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The report said investigators identified a suspect, 21-year-old Nijay Johnson of Columbus, who turned himself in to Columbus PD later that afternoon. He faces a charge of murder.

Captain Wendy Alley of the Columbus Police Department told the Record that “some of the parties” involved in the shooting were at the trail ride earlier that night. But she said the shooting took place in Columbus and was not related to the event in Fayette County.