Lexington County coroner releases name of West Columbia man killed in apartment shooting

Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man after a 24-year-old West Columbia resident was shot and killed Saturday at the Riverbend Apartments.

Bradley Freeman Tucker was shot repeatedly in the upper body and pronounced dead outside of his residence in the 100 block of Riverbend Drive, near North Lucase Street, according to the Lexington County Coroner’s Office.

On Sunday, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department released a statement on Facebook saying Justin Brandon McCrae, 26, was charged with murder in Tucker’s death. McCrae was also charged with possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, according to the statement.

No information has been released about McRae’s bond or what led to the shooting. According to the department, detectives interviewed nearby residents while crime scene investigators collected evidence.

In a statement, the Lexington County Coroner’s Office said it also continues to investigate.

Tucker’s autopsy has been scheduled for Wednesday at MUSC in Charleston, South Carolina.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for more information.

Ted Clifford

The State

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Ted Clifford is the statewide accountability reporter at The State Newspaper. Formerly the crime and courts reporter, he has covered the Murdaugh saga, state and federal court, as well as criminal justice and public safety in the Midlands and across South Carolina. He is the recipient of the 2023 award for best beat reporting by the South Carolina Press Association.