One man arrested, another is wanted after shooting in West Columbia, police say
One man is in jail and another considered armed and dangerous is being sought following a shooting, the West Columbia Police Department said Thursday.
The shooting happened on Aug. 15 in the 1100 block of Leaphart Street in West Columbia, police said in a news release. That’s near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and North 12th Street.
An argument turned into gunfire, with multiple people shooting at each other, Assistant Chief Scott Morrison told The State. Morrison said he did not know what the argument was about.
One person was hurt after being shot multiple times, Morrison said. That person recovered and cooperated with investigators, according to Morrison.
On Tuesday, police arrested Juston Dewayne Lyles Erving, according to the release. The 29-year-old was taken to the Lexington County Detention Center, and was charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, jail records show.
Erving also faces a charge of possession of schedule one controlled substance, in addition to a weapons charge for sale or delivery of a pistol, according to jail records. He remains behind bars after his bail was set at $63,500 on the combined charges, jail records show.
A search is underway for Antonio Deon Dortch for his role in the shooting, according to the release.
Police described the 29-year-old Dortch as a 5-foot-8, 195-pound man with a cross tattooed on his forehead.
Dortch should not be approached if spotted, Morrison said.
Anyone with information on Dortch or the shooting is asked to call police at 803-794-0721, or CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
In May 2018, Dortch was convicted on an attempted murder charge from a November 2013 arrest, Richland County court records show. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but the balance was suspended after he was credited for time served. He also was placed on on one year of probation, according to court records.
Also in November 2013, Dortch was convicted of shoplifting charge ($2,000 or less), court records show. He served 30 days in jail for that conviction, the same sentence he received when found guilty on a drug charge for marijuana possession in November 2010, according to court records.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 10:14 AM.
