Richland County deputies charge four teenagers in fatal shooting

Richland County deputies announced the arrest of five additional suspects in a Feb. 29 homicide that left one victim dead in a vehicle on Seton Hall Drive.

Sheriff’s deputies also arrested Jose Reyes, 17, the morning of March 1 at his residence on High View Drive. Sheriff Leon Lott said Reyes was an acquaintance of Jaelene I. Josey, who reportedly crashed his vehicle after suffering gunshot wounds to his upper body. Reyes was the first suspect investigators were able to identify with the help of witnesses.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts stated Josey, 18, died from complications of a gunshot wound to the back.

Sheriff Leon Lott said investigators took the following suspects in to custody:

▪  Douglas Murphy Jr., 17, turned himself in to investigators on March 1. He was charged with murder and attempted armed robbery;

▪  Sequoia Kessler, 21, turned herself in to investigators on Friday. She was charged with accessory to felony after the fact;

▪  Thaddeus Lewis, 16, was taken in to custody on March 1. He was charged as an adult with murder and attempted armed robbery;

▪  Trajan Mack, 16, was taken in to custody at his residence on Cane Brake Circle on March 1. He was charged as an adult with murder and attempted armed robbery;

▪  Sterling Kessler, 16, was taken in to custody at his residence on Springtree Drive on Wednesday. He was charged as an adult with accessory to felony before the fact and accessory to felony after the fact.

Lott said that evidence at the scene led to the additional arrests of Murphy, Kessler, Lewis, Mack and Kessler.

The suspects have been transported to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.