13-year-old charged with hate crime, South Carolina sheriff says. Here’s why
A 13-year-old was charged with a hate crime following a burglary at a South Carolina home, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The minor, who was not publicly identified because of his age, was charged with the hate crime ordinance following a burglary at Columbia home where racial slurs and antisemitic messages were spray-painted on the walls, the sheriff’s department said Tuesday in a news release.
At about 5 p.m. May 14, deputies responded to a burglary at home in the 1000 block of Coatesdale Road, according to the release. That’s near the Garners Ferry Road Exit on I-77, not far from the Dorn VA Medical Center.
Deputies learned from a witness that he arrived at the vacant residence to check on the property for the owner when he noticed bicycles outside and saw two young male juveniles fleeing from the home, the sheriff’s department said.
Inside the vandalized home, there was extensive property damage including large holes in the walls, a kicked-in rear door, several broken windows, and graffiti spray-painted using different offensive messaging targeting Jews and Blacks, according to the release.
After speaking with additional witnesses, deputies located one juvenile suspect at a nearby residence, the sheriff’s department said. The suspect clothing described by the original witness and paint cans were found at the juvenile’s residence while executing a search warrant of the location, according to the release.
The 13-year-old was charged with third-degree burglary, malicious injury to real property (greater than $2,000) and the hate crime ordinance, the sheriff’s department said. The teen was taken to a South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice facility without incident, according to the release.
There was no word if the 13-year-old is still being held at the DJJ facility.
The incident remains under investigation as deputies look to identify the second teen.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 803-576-3000, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
The sheriff’s department told The State that the 13-year-old is just the second person to be charged with Richland County’s hate crime ordinance.
While South Carolina, along with Wyoming, is one of two states without a state hate crimes law, Richland County passed a hate crime ordinance earlier in 2025. Under the ordinance, it’s a misdemeanor to commit a bias-motivated crime, and adds another layer of legal sanctions for intimidation. If a crime were motivated by a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, disability or other bias, the defendant would face penalties for that crime, and for violating the hate intimidation ordinance.
The penalty for being convicted of a hate crime under the county’s misdemeanor ordinance is a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.
In July 2025, Jonathan Felkel became the first person charged with a hate crime in Richland County. Felkel, who is white, shot a gun in the direction of a Black man who was jogging, The State previously reported. Felkel has since pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
