Car sought in connection with possible gang-related shootings

Columbia police say they are looking for a vehicle seen leaving the area where a suspected gang-related shooting injured four people Aug. 6.

In a news release Wednesday, the Columbia Police Department said the “vehicle of interest” — a silver or gray Dodge Magnum — was spotted near 1050 Garden Plaza, where the incident took place. The street runs along the Gonzales Gardens housing project and intersects Forest Drive.

Several calls were made to 911 at about 9 p.m. that evening to report the shooting. Authorities arrived to find three males who had been shot. They were taken for treatment to the hospital, where officers found a fourth 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.

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. Tipsters also can go to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com/ and click on the red "Submit a tip” tab.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 1:57 PM.