Argument turned deadly, now Columbia man is charged with murder, police say
One man is dead and another is in jail after an argument escalated, the Columbia Police Department said Wednesday.
Orlando Roderick Hakeem Gladney was charged with murder, among other crimes, following the shooting death of James J. Patterson, Jr., police said in a news release.
It was one of three shootings reported by police in less than two days, and the first of two at the same apartment complex.
The shooting occurred Monday night at the 28-year-old Gladney’s home at 511 Alcott Drive, according to the release.
Gladney and the 46-year-old Patterson were acquaintances who argued before the gunfire at at Willow Run Apartments, police said.
Patterson was taken to an area hospital where he died, according to the release.
Crack cocaine and Xanax was found during a search of Gladney’s home, police said
In addition to murder, Gladney was charged with possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine within ½-mile radius of a school, and possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, jail records show.
He’s being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, where his bond was set at $20,000 on the drug charges, but he was denied bond on the murder and weapons charges, according to jail records.
Another shooting was reported at the Alcott Drive apartment complex Tuesday, police said.
Police have not said if that shooting is related to Patterson’s death, but witnesses reported hearing an argument followed by gunfire.
A man was hurt in that second shooting and taken to an area hospital, police tweeted.
Information on his condition was not available.
“We owe it to the people of this community to say enough is enough,” Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said, according to the tweet.
The first shooting happened before 2 p.m. Monday, about eight miles away from the Willow Run Apartments, police said.
Michael Booker’s body was found by officers responding to a shots fired call in the 100 block of Rose Drive, police tweeted.
On Tuesday, police tweeted they arrested Craig Lamar Edwards, and the 49-year-old was charged with murdering Booker.
Edwards is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and was also charged with kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, jail records show.
Other charges Edwards faces stemming from the incident include sale or delivery and possession of weapons, failure to stop for blue lights, and unlawful carrying of a pistol, Richland County court records show.
Booker, 53, and Edwards knew each other and were seen arguing before the shooting, police said in a news release.
Edwards left the scene in a car, and led police on a chase through North Columbia, police said. It went from Lorick Avenue to Columbia College Drive, and into Earlwood on Richfield Drive before ending in 1200 block of Northwood Street, according to the release.
Booker died at the scene of the shooting, which is near Rose Drive’s intersection with South Kilbourne Road. that’s less than a mile from Hunter-Gatherer Brewery/Taproom and City Roots.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 3:15 PM.
