Columbia man found guilty in carjacking, attempted murder of police officer

A man who was shot by police when a carjacking escalated to him ramming his vehicle into a police officer’s was found guilty and sentenced in state court.

A jury found Keylan Durham, 24, guilty of a 2014 carjacking, kidnapping, attempted armed robbery, assault and battery in the first degree and attempted murder, according to a news release from the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Durham to 24 years in prison.

In August of 2014, Durham approached Marek Drastich and LaShonda Edwards at their apartment complex near Harbison Boulevard, according to the release. Durham, armed with a pistol and wearing a wig, then pistol-whipped Drastich, demanded money and drove off with the car.

Durham fled the scene and led law enforcement on a chase while hitting speeds as high as 140 miles per hour. He then rammed Columbia police Officer Marcus Brown with his vehicle, eventually hitting a tree, a parked car and a light pole.

He and a passenger were reportedly shot after he struck Brown’s vehicle, and Durham left the car on foot. He was arrested later at his girlfriend’s apartment.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott previously said Durham was also a suspect in two other carjackings in the Columbia area.

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Columbia man found guilty in carjacking, attempted murder of police officer."