Police charge suspect in one of two shootings at Columbia apartment complex
A man was arrested in one of the two shootings at Colony Apartments in Columbia this week that left one person dead, according to the Columbia Police Department.
William Jiles, 29, has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in Tuesday night’s fatal shooting, according to Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
Two people were shot on Tuesday around 6:53 p.m., according to police.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a male victim with a gunshot wound to his upper body, a news release said. Officers were later notified that a second person, later identified as Jiles, had been transported to the hospital for a gunshot wound.
The male victim, identified Friday as Blake McGrath, 23, of Columbia, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Further information on the surviving victim’s condition was not available.
No other injuries were reported in Tuesday’s shooting.
Jiles is accused of confronting McGrath and shooting him in reference to a violent confrontation, the news release said.
He was booked into the at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Another shooting at the apartments on Monday sent a woman to an area hospital, WIS reported. Further information on her condition was not available.
The apartment complex is in the 6400 block of Bailey Street, by the intersection of West Beltline Boulevard and Farrow Road.
This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 4:43 PM.
