Multiple teens dead, another injured in Richland County shooting, sheriff’s department says
Multiple teenagers have died following a shooting Sunday afternoon, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff’s department was dispatched to the 200 block of Saddletrail Road near the Hollywood Hills neighborhood just north of Columbia city limits just after 2 p.m.
Deputies found four people with gunshot wounds. The individuals were transported to the hospital, where three of them died. The fourth victim was shot in the lower body and has been released, the sheriff’s department said. They were all between the ages of 16 and 17.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford identified the victims Monday as Dre’von Riley, 17; JaKobe Fanning, 17; and Caleb Wise, 16.
“This is an ongoing investigation and more details will be provided as available,” Rutherford said in a statement Sunday night. “We will continue working with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to fully investigate this incident.”
The three teens who died were students at Eau Claire High School, according to Richland School District 1.
“The Richland One family is grieving the loss of three young lives to senseless gun violence,” said Richland 1 Superintendent Craig Witherspoon. “This is an unimaginable tragedy, and we ask everyone to keep the students’ families and the students and staff at Eau Claire High School in your thoughts and prayers.”
The district’s crisis team is at the school to provide counseling and support to students and staff who need it. Eau Claire has additional security on campus as a precaution, the district said.
Investigators are actively working on the case. The sheriff’s department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers at CrimeSC.com or call 1-888-CRIME-SC.
This story was originally published September 25, 2023 at 7:49 AM.
