Man now charged with murder from Amazon facility shooting, Lexington Co. deputies say
The charge against a Midlands man has been upgraded to murder after a shooting victim recently died, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said.
The shooting happened Dec. 21, 2022 at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in West Columbia, deputies said.
When 20-year-old Lexington resident Jonathan Harden Alique Walker was originally arrested, he was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to a news release.
But the attempted charge was upgraded after Derrell Andrews died Dec. 31, 2022, the sheriff’s department said. Andrews was a 31-year-old Darlington, South Carolina resident, according to his obituary.
The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Amazon facility following an argument between the two men, the sheriff’s department said. The Amazon fulfillment center is located at 4400 12 St. Extension in West Columbia, off of Interstate 26.
Information about why the men were arguing was not available.
“Walker and the shooting victim, who are both employed by Amazon, are linked socially in that they have mutual connections at work,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the Dec. 21 release. “There had been some conversations back and forth between the two of them last night.”
Andrews was shot multiple times, and Walker is accused of leaving the scene after the shooting, according to the sheriff’s department. Andrews left the Amazon facility in a car, the driver called 911, and they were found a short distance away from the scene by deputies and EMS personnel, the sheriff’s department said.
Andrews was taken to a hospital by ambulance and underwent surgery, the sheriff’s department said.
No other injuries were reported.
Walker was arrested at his home and remains behind bars at the Lexington County Detention Center after no bond was set on the original charges, jail records show.
A funeral service for Andrews is scheduled for Sunday at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and burial will follow in the church cemetery, according to the obituary.
Andrews is survived by a daughter, his parents and siblings among other family members, the obituary said.
Affectionately known as “Rell,” he “was a gentle soul who loved being with family and friends and was very protective of them all,” according to the obituary.
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This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 3:07 PM.
