Woman charged with murder in Columbia shooting, police say
A woman is behind bars on multiple charges, including murder, following a shooting, the Columbia Police Department said Tuesday.
Leona Toatley was arrested following a shooting at the Gable Oaks Apartments on Colleton Street, police officials said. That’s near the intersection of North Main Street and Fairfield Road and less than 2 miles from Eau Claire High School.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts identified the victim as 29-year-old Kornell Willis and said he died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Police said Willis was an acquaintance of the 29-year-old Toatley and described the shooting as a domestic-related. Further information on what led to the shooting was not released.
In a press release, police officials said an officer was flagged down by a resident and saw Willis on the floor inside an apartment before calling for additional officers. Toatley refused to let officers into the apartment, police say, before an officer was able to open the door after several attempts.
In addition to murder, Toatley was charged with possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the press release. She has also been charged with shoplifting ($2,000 or less), and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in relation to an incident last November in which she allegedly encouraged two minors to steal items of clothing from a store, a police spokesperson said.
Early Wednesday, bond had not been set for Toatley, who was being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center while awaiting a hearing, according to Richland County court records. She’s scheduled to have her next court appearance on July 27, according to judicial records.
In 2011, Toatley was evicted from Gable Oaks Apartments, Richland County court records show. Information was not available to show if she was a resident at the apartment where Tuesday’s shooting happened.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 7:56 AM.
