Columbia teenager charged in attempted murder from weekend shooting of two men

A Columbia teenager has been arrested on multiple charges for his role in an attempted murder.

Tony Tyrese Williams, 17, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm (person under 18), and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to the Richland County Sheriff’’s Department.

The incident occurred Dec. 16, when deputies responded to Silver Oak Circle for a shots fired call around 6 a.m. and discovered two men in the road with gunshot wounds to the upper body, the sheriff’s department said.

One of the men is paralyzed from his shoulders down, and the other man remains in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s department.

Williams is accused of stealing the paralyzed man’s car, a blue 2004 Saturn Ion.

On Monday, Columbia Police Department officers stopped the stolen Saturn Ion on W. Beltline Boulevard, and the female driver led officers back her residence on Marlboro Drive where her son (Williams) was located, according to the sheriff’s department.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators found a handgun in the home; this weapon has been linked through RCSD Firearms Division and DNA lab as a match in the double shooting.

Williams was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Sheriff Leon Lott stated that the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests could be forthcoming.

In November, the Columbia Police Department accused Williams of stealing a 60-year-old woman’s purse at the Walmart on Forest Drive.

It is believed he got into a vehicle with two females in the Walmart parking lot and fled the area.

This story was originally published December 18, 2017 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Columbia teenager charged in attempted murder from weekend shooting of two men."