Three men killed in Columbia apartment shooting identified by Lexington County Coroner
Three men are dead following a shooting at a Columbia apartment complex Tuesday, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said.
A fourth man escaped the apartment and called 911 about 11 a.m., according to the sheriff’s department.
The shooting occurred inside an apartment in Woodland Village, which is on Butternut Lane, the sheriff’s department said on Twitter. That is just off Bush River Road, near the junction with Interstate 20 at Exit 63.
The sheriff’s department said the crime was “not a random incident.”
“This apartment was not chosen out of the blue,” spokesman Adam Myrick said.
The person who reported the shooting “has been willing to talk and our detectives have been knocking on doors to find out information on what happened, and also what happened in the days leading up to the shooting. Those tips will be vital to our investigation,” Myrick said.
He said investigators aren’t sure how many people may be responsible.
Two men were killed at the scene and a third victim was taken to an area hospital where he died, Myrick told The State.
The men who died at the scene were Branton T. Booker, 28, and Sheldon D. Livingston, 26, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said.
The third man who died at the area hospital was identified as Duwan E. Williams, 27, according to Fisher.
All three men, who were residents of the apartment, died from multiple gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, the coroner’s office said.
One resident of the apartment complex said he had felt safe living there.
“Nothing like this has ever happened here; it’s quite quiet here,” said Willie Brown, a retiree who has lived at Woodland Village for about five years. “So this is really a surprise, wow.
“I sit outside a lot and nothing happens. People keep to themselves and I just watch the scenery.”
The sheriff’s department is asking for the community’s help identifying a person, or persons, of interest.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or report it to CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
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This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 1:15 PM.
