Police release image of car connected to Columbia teen’s shooting death

Police have released an image of the vehicle they say was used in connection with the deadly shooting of a Columbia teenager earlier this summer.

The image, taken from surveillance video, shows a car police believe was used by those involved with the shooting of 14-year-old NaJeer Buggs on July 3 near an area park, Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in a statement released Monday.

“Cameras are strategically placed across the city for a reason,” Holbrook said. “Every time we have a violent incident such as this, we look at the video.”

Buggs and his cousin were walking home from a basketball game around 9:15 p.m. that Friday in the 4100 block of Grand Street when they encountered one or more suspects in the car seen in the image. Shots were fired, striking Buggs in the upper body. Buggs was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Although Holbrook said in July that Buggs and his cousin were the intended targets of the shooting, investigators have not determined a motive or whether it was gang-related.

Wali Sharif, Buggs’ uncle, said his nephew was not one to get mixed up in the gang lifestyle.

“My nephew wasn’t a gang banger,” he said. “He was just walking home from a basketball game. That’s all he ever does is play basketball. Every day he tries to find a game or a court to go play on.”

Buggs’ family has pleaded with those responsible to come forward and turn themselves in.

Herman Jenkins said Buggs, his grandson, was one of the most loving people he has ever known. He said Buggs would often talk about his belief that all people are good.

“He always saw the best in everyone,” Jenkins said. “I often times had to remind him that the world is not like that. You must be careful.”

The car in the image is described as a light-colored, mid-size car, Holbrook said.

Anyone with information about the car or this incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (888) CRIME-SC.

Harrison Cahill contributed to this report.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 4:56 PM.