Hatchet-wielding suspect arrested in connection with attempted armed robbery

A 29-year-old Columbia man armed with a hatchet has been arrested on charges of attempted robbery of a convenience store near Irmo, police say.

Jairus Mickale Byrd, 29, was arrested and charged Sunday after he tried to rob the City Gas & Food, Inc., at 1301 Bush River Road on Sunday, Lexington County Sheriff Lewis McCarty said in a statement released Monday.

According to an arrest warrant, Byrd entered the store, swung a hatchet at the store’s owner and demanded that he open the register. The store owner tried to grab the hatchet from Byrd, but Byrd was able to run away, the arrest warrant alleges.

Deputies responding to the call found Byrd walking on Bush River Road, McCarty said. The hatchet could be seen sticking out of his pants, the warrant alleges.

Byrd was being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on Monday while awaiting a bond hearing. The case remains under investigation, McCarty said.

Anyone with information about additional criminal activity involving Byrd is asked to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Mindy Lucas

This story was originally published April 20, 2015 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Hatchet-wielding suspect arrested in connection with attempted armed robbery."