Columbia police charge 14-year-old in shooting

Columbia police have charged a 14-year-old boy in connection with a shooting that wounded one Tuesday afternoon, according to department officials.

Jennifer Timmons, a department spokeswoman, said the boy is accused of shooting a victim in the leg near the 300 block of Hanover Avenue in the Eau Claire neighborhood. The victim was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, she said.

Timmons said the suspect has been charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, unlawful carrying of a handgun and unlawful carrying of a handgun by a person under the age of 18.

The boy was being held in the juvenile unit at Richland County’s Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

The shooting does not appear to be gang related, Timmons said.

She did not say, however, how the suspect gained possession of the firearm or whether his parents would be held responsible for him coming into possession of the firearm.

This story was originally published May 21, 2015 at 8:43 AM.