Two men charged with murder after shooting in Columbia, SC sheriff says
Two men were charged with murder after another man was killed in a Friday morning shooting, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The arrests were made hours after a man was found shot in a neighborhood near Sesquicentennial State Park, the sheriff’s department said Saturday in a news release.
In addition to murder, both Michael Reed, 56, and Travis Thomas, 41, were charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the release.
At approximately 8:47 a.m. Friday, deputies were dispatched to South Chelsea Road in response to a shooting, the sheriff’s department said. When deputies arrived, they found an unresponsive male sitting on the ground.
The male died on the scene, according to the sheriff’s department. A spokesperson for the department confirmed that he was shot.
The sheriff’s department said that deputies then secured the scene, which was turned over to investigators.
On Friday, the Richland County Coroner’s Office said that it couldn’t release the name of the victim because it was still in the process of notifying his next of kin.
No other injuries were reported.
Information about a motive for the shooting, and any connection between the victim and suspects, was not available.
There was no word how deputies connected Reed and Thomas to the shooting.
“While the community and the sheriff’s department have not been able to stop the murders, we have been very successful in solving them quickly and bringing to justice those responsible.” Sheriff Leon Lott said in the release. “This murder occurred (Friday) morning and by (that) night we had made two arrests, even as far away as Florida. Quick arrests help start the healing process for the victim’s families, friends, and the community. As I have said before, we will get you.”
This story was originally published October 13, 2023 at 4:04 PM.
