Gang-activity suspected in Thursday night shooting in Columbia

Four men standing on McDuffie Avenue, off Forest Drive, were shot Thursday night in what Columbia police believe was a gang-related attack.

Several calls were made to 911 around 9 p.m. to report the shooting, police chief Skip Holbrook said in a news release.

Officers sent to the scene at the Gonzales Gardens housing project found 3 males who had been shot. They were taken for treatment to the hospital where officers found a 4th male victim already being treated for a gunshot wound.

Two of the victims are ‘validated gang members,” Holbrook said. It is believed the shooting developed from an argument between two groups.

Three of the victims were treated and released from the hospital. The fourth, who was shot in the upper body, continues to receive medical treatment, Holbrook said.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call CALL toll-free, 888-CRIME-SC; OR, TEXT to CRIMES (274637), and mark the beginning of the message with "TIPSC,”followed by the tip information; OR, LOG onto http://www.midlandscrimestoppers.com/, and click on the red "Submit a tip” tab.