One man has been arrested and four more are wanted in connection with the June 19 shooting death of Gary Eugene Reese at the Gable Oaks Apartments in Columbia.
Daqwan M. Johnson, 21, was charged Friday with murder after Columbia Police investigators received a tip that he allegedly had been involved in the killing, according to the Columbia Police Department. Richland County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended Johnson on Craven Street. He allegedly had drugs, a pistol and an assault rifle in his possession. Three other people in the home also were arrested on drug and gun charges, police said.
The four other suspects in the shooting are: Detrick Walker, 19; Marquez Quayshaw Prophet, 17; Terrance Dwayne Patterson, 28; and Thomas Obryan Williams, 25.
The suspects allegedly opened fire on Reese at the Colleton Street apartment complex, and the 24-year-old Columbia man died from a bullet wound to the head. The suspects also hit several buildings and vehicles in the gunfire, police said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects should call Crimestoppers at (888) 274-6372.
-- Noelle Phillips
Two fires cause severe damage in Lexington County
A fire started by food left on a hot stove Friday night caused $15,000 in damage to a two-story home in Lexington.
Firefighters arrived on scene at 8:36 p.m. to find heavy smoke rolling through the house on Beltrees Drive. A female resident had been asleep on the couch and woke when smoke caused her to cough, according to Lexington County Fire Service Division reports. She escaped without injury.
At 1:32 a.m. Saturday, firefighters in West Columbia were called to a fire at Carolina Mobility Sales on Leaphart Road. The fire burned a 5,000-square-foot service facility with four bays. The cause was unknown, and the fire remains under investigation. No one was injured.
-- Noelle Phillips
Clyburn, Graham meet on faith
Two of South Carolina’s top representatives in Congress got together Saturday to help faith-based and nonprofit groups learn about initiatives and grant opportunities.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn hosted a symposium on faith-based and neighborhood partnerships.
Joshua Dubois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and staff members from the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs were expected to attend the Columbia event.
-- The Associated Press
Mayor: Alcohol arrest won’t hurt tourism
CHARLESTON -- The mayor of one of South Carolina’s most popular destinations says he doesn’t think the arrest of a Florida man for drinking in public will hurt tourism.
Multiple media outlets report that Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. said Friday he supports a police officer’s decision to arrest 50-year-old Ted M. Zellman.
The retired commodities trader from Coral Gables, Fla., was arrested Wednesday night after police saw him walk out of a store with a beer bottle inside a brown paper bag.
Officers say they saw Zellman open the bottle and drink out of the paper bag several times as he walked in downtown Charleston. He spent about nine hours in jail before paying more than $200 in bond and being released.
-- The Associated Press
Worker’s death heat-related
SUMMERVILLE -- A 32-year-old man from Connecticut has died after he became overheated while working for a moving company in South Carolina.
Multiple media outlets report that Jonathan LaPointe of Meriden, Conn., died after having a heart attack and passing out Thursday in Summerville.
LaPointe was pronounced dead at around 2:30 p.m. at a hospital. Authorities were still waiting for autopsy results.
In nearby Charleston, Melanie Thornhill was charged with unlawful conduct toward a child after police say she left her 2-month-old son in the back seat of her car while she shopped.
Authorities say the boy was unharmed.
-- The Associated Press
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