Shooting of Columbia man at Family Dollar leads to murder charge, police say
A 27-year-old is behind bars after he was charged with murder and other crimes following a Sunday morning shooting at a Family Dollar, the Columbia Police Department said.
Gregory Edwards, Jr. was arrested Sunday afternoon, hours after the shooting outside the convenience store in the 5300 block of Fairfield Road, police said in a news release. That’s near the intersection with North Main Street, in an area densely packed with retail businesses, restaurants, churches and schools.
Edwards was taken into custody during a traffic stop after he left the Super 8 motel at 5719 Fairfield Road, according to the release.
A gun was found in the vehicle and was taken for ballistic testing, police said. Police are trying to determine if that weapon was used in the killing of a 61-year-old man.
Kenneth Young was identified as the man who died after being shot in the upper body, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said.
The shooting happened a little after 8 a.m. outside the Family Dollar, and responding officers found Young in the parking lot after receiving a ShotSpotter alert about the gunfire, according to the release.
The Columbia resident was taken to Prisma Health Richland hospital where he died, Watts said.
No other injuries were reported, Lt. A.E. Rease told The State.
There was no word on what led to the gunfire, or if any other people were involved, but the shooting remains under investigation by police and the coroner’s office.
Edwards was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center where he was charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, jail records show.
No bond has been set and Edwards remains behind bars.
In 2012, Edwards pleaded guilty to a charge of malicious injury to real property, Richland County court records show.
That same year in Lexington County, Edwards was convicted on multiple counts of threatening life, person or family of public official, teacher, principal, according to court records. He also served time after pleading guilty to resisting arrest and wounding an officer, court records show.
In 2010, Edwards was convicted of giving false information to law enforcement, and trespassing, in addition to disorderly conduct, Lexington County court records show.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 8:11 AM.
