Antanavious Butler made his first court appearance Friday October 10,2025 for the Brookstone home invasion and murder of Norman Lane. A Columbus police detective testified it was the victim’s dog that first alerted neighbors something was amiss at the home on Brookstone Boulevard. The dog was discovered running loose and a neighbor noticed the back door was forced open, so they called police for a welfare check.
Police discovered the 65-year-old victim dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Neighbors also reported seeing a white Dodge Charger driving up and down the street on the day of the murder. A witness told detectives that same vehicle parked in front of Lane’s home and there were two loud pops at the time of the murder. Investigators obtained surveillance video from the neighborhood and were quickly able to identify the vehicle and that it was registered to Butler. Police also used Butler’s cell phone data to show he was located around the murder scene.
The suspect went to Opelika Police after the murder to report his 12-gauge shotgun missing and police tracked his car to and from Alabama. Butler was ultimately taken into custody without incident at the Circle K on Manchester Expressway. Police discovered a shotgun and shell casings matching the ones found at the murder scene.
Why Butler targeted Norman Lane or if the suspect knew the victim remains unknown. Judge Susan Henderson bound the case over to Superior Court after issuing no bonds on all three charges of murder, home invasion and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
