Teen killed in shooting after pulling gun on Columbia officer identified by coroner
An investigation is underway after a Columbia police officer shot and killed a teenager who was armed with a gun Wednesday night.
The victim, Joshua Dariandre Ruffin, of Columbia, was shot by Columbia Police after they say the 17-year-old pulled a gun on an officer while being chased.
Ruffin, a black male, was shot once and taken to a Prisma Health where he died from the gunshot wound, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook offered condolences to the family Thursday afternoon.
“All loss of life is tragic but especially a young adult with a full life ahead of him,” he said.
The department has not released the name of the officer, but said he is a white male who has been with the department for 4 1/2 years and had not been involved in any prior shootings. The department says it plans to release the officer’s name after he is interviewed by investigators.
The officer’s body camera footage is being reviewed by investigators and will also be made available at a later date.
The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. Wednesday after police responded near Monticello Road and Columbia College Drive where officers were investigating reports of car break-ins, according to a police department news release. The area is close to Eau Claire High School.
While patrolling the area, an officer stopped to speak with Ruffin, who was walking along Monticello Road. That’s what Ruffin began to run away, Holbrook said.
Holbrook said the officer followed on foot for about 20 seconds, at which point Ruffin pulled out a gun. The officer then shot Ruffin in the front upper body, the police chief added.
At this time it’s unknown how many shots were fired. Police have not said if Ruffin fired his gun at the officer, though the officer wasn’t injured. A purse with cash was found near the victim, though its relevance is unknown at this time, Holbrook added.
The officer involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave with pay while the incident is investigated by the South Carolina law Enforcement Division (SLED), Holbrook said.
Additionally, the the Columbia Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting a concurrent administrative investigation, according a department news release. In addition to SLED and the police, the coroner’s office is continuing to investigate the shooting.
This was the first officer involved shooting in 2020 involving the Columbia Police Department, SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby said.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 7:41 AM.
