16-year-old from Columbia killed in shooting identified by Richland County coroner
A teenager was killed in a shooting over the holiday weekend and a search is underway for the gunman, the Columbia Police Department said.
Josiah T.J. Sanders, 16, of Columbia, was identified as the shooting victim, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.
Sanders was a Lower Richland High School student, according to Richland 1 spokeswoman Karen York. He recently started his sophomore year.
At about 11 p.m. Sunday, police reported a shooting at a home in the 4100 block of McQueen Street in North Columbia. That’s near the Broad River, and about 1.5 miles from the intersection of Main Street and U.S. 176/River Drive.
Responding officers said they found Sanders suffering life-threatening injuries.
No other injuries were reported.
There is no word on a shooter, or shooters, or a motive for the gunfire.
No arrests have been reported by police. Police did not say if the shooting is considered an isolated incident, or if it should be considered an ongoing threat to the community.
“We were saddened to learn that one of our students, Josiah Sanders, was killed Sunday night,” Richland 1 Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Josiah’s family and the students and staff at Lower Richland.”
Richland 1’s Crisis Team was at Lower Richland High Tuesday to provide counseling, assistance and support to students and staff, according to Witherspoon.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published September 7, 2021 at 7:57 AM.
