Richland sheriff calls on parents after weekend shootings that killed 2 teens & put 3 in jail
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott urges the community and parents to “do more” after three unrelated weekend shootings killed two teenagers, put three others behind bars and left another critically injured.
A string of unrelated shootings that began last Friday, has left a 17-year-old in critical condition, two 15-year-olds dead and three 14-year-olds behind bars, according to Lott.
“Unfortunately, I’ve stood behind this podium many times and said that a gun is going to get you one of two places, the cemetery or in prison, and that’s what we’re seeing,” Lott said during a news conference Tuesday.
“This generation that we’ve got of 14- and 15-year-olds thinks that a gun is the answer to everything,” Lott continued. “They think that gun gives them power and respect. Well now, that gun has got two 15-year-olds dead and three 14-year-olds arrested.”
Shooting near Turkey Farm Road
On Friday at around 5 p.m., Richland County deputies responded to a call involving a gunshot victim in the 300 block of Turkey Farm Road, according to a news release. Deputies discovered a 17-year-old victim who had been shot in the upper body, and immediately began rendering first aid.
The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive, Lott said.
Investigators, he added, are still working to identify a suspect as well the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Shooting on Hunting Avenue
On Sunday, shortly after 10 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 100 block of Hunting Avenue, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. That’s near the intersection with Lower Richland Boulevard in Hopkins, in the area between Garners Ferry Road and Leesburg Road.
Inside the home, deputies found a 15-year-old victim in a chair, according to the release.
The teen had been shot in the upper body, and was taken to a hospital, where he died, the sheriff’s department said.
An investigation found that a 14-year-old (John Doe No. 1) had stolen his father’s handgun out of a safe before giving it to another 14-year-old (John Doe No. 2) while visiting a friend’s house on Hunting Avenue, Lott said Tuesday.
John Doe No. 2 “slides the gun back with his finger on the trigger and the gun fires, hitting and killing the 15-year-old victim,” Lott said.
Both John Doe No. 1 and No. 2 are in custody at the Department of Juvenile Justice, Lott said. John Doe No. 1 was charged with involuntary manslaughter and possession of a handgun by a person under 18. John Doe No. 2 was charged with accessory after the fact, petit larceny and possession of a handgun by a person under 18, according to Lott.
Shooting near Hardscrabble Road
Around 3 a.m. Monday morning, deputies were patrolling near Hardscrabble and Clemson roads when they heard shots fired, a news release said.
Deputies attempted to locate the shooting before receiving a 911 call about an hour later, when the caller said they believed there was a body on their back porch, according to a news release.
At the caller’s residence, deputies located an unresponsive 15-year-old victim with multiple gun shot wounds. The Richland County Coroner’s Office pronounced the victim dead on the scene, a release said.
A 14-year-old suspect was apprehended at a residence by Richland and Lexington County sheriff deputies later that afternoon, according to a news release. Deputies also located the firearm used in the shooting at the residence.
The juvenile was charged with murder and possession of a handgun by a person under 18.
Community and parent response
Lott called on community members and parents to become more proactive in response to teen gun violence.
Almost all of the teens involved in the weekend shootings have a criminal record, Lott said.
“Each one of them have made bad decisions that not have impacted not only their lives forever, but also the lives of their families.”
Lott challenged the community, parents and grandparents to step up and do more, especially with the approaching winter holiday break, when kids will be out of school for several weeks.
“Unfortunately, as I stand here and people listen to this today, they’re going to say, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this happened,’ and then will completely forget about it tomorrow,” Lott said. “These families (of victims and suspects) are not going to forget about it, and as a community, we do not need to forget about it.”
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 4:42 PM.
