Coroner rules deaths in Northeast Columbia a murder-suicide

The Richland County coroner has identified two people found shot Friday in a Northeast Columbia home.

Christina Martin, 45, was found by authorities shot in the head at her home on Summit Ridge Circle in the Summit neighborhood, according to a statement from coroner Gary Watts.

Authorities also found Anthony Kwahn Kennedy, 46, of Sandy Lane Extension in Winnsboro, dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Watts said.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to the house at 91 Summit Ridge Circle at 6:15 a.m. A person reported that shots were fired. When deputies arrived they found the two dead.

Deputy coroners were called in to investigate.

On Friday evening, Watts ruled the deaths a murder-suicide. However, the Richland coroner’s office and sheriff’s department are still investigating, he said.

This story was originally published September 7, 2019 at 11:13 AM.

David Travis Bland

The State

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David Travis Bland is The State’s editorial editor. In his prior position as a reporter, he was named the 2020 South Carolina Journalist of the Year by the SC Press Association. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2010. Support my work with a digital subscription