News Release: 2025 Year End Round Up

01/07/26

Sheriff Leon Lott announced that the safety and security of Richland County citizens remain the department’s top priority. In 2025, Richland County experienced a decrease in murders, with 100 percent of murders solved for three years in a row. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department made 37 arrests for murder with numerous additional arrests on related charges.

Murders declined slightly, with 26 cases in 2025 compared to 27 in 2024. From the very beginning of each murder investigation, our investigators work tirelessly and dedicate countless hours to pursuing every lead until the case is solved, providing justice and bringing much-needed closure to victims’ loved ones. Advances in technology, along with our in-house DNA and forensic laboratory, allow evidence to be processed quickly and accurately, significantly strengthening our ability to solve cases efficiently.

Sheriff Lott stated the Richland County Sheriff’s Department remains committed to building relationships with the citizens of Richland County. “Community trust is not just something we value - it’s the foundation of effective law enforcement”, says Sheriff Lott, “Strong relationships helps us prevent crime, solve cases, and keep our community safe.”

Besides murders being down, sexual assault was down, and robbery numbers remained the same. Assaults were up 15% from 2024. With regards to property crimes, burglary remained the same from 2024, while motor vehicle thefts and car break-ins were down from 2024. There was a 13% increase in larcenies from 2024.

The number of guns turned into evidence in 2025 was 1,633. The number of stolen guns recovered in Richland County was 177. Of those 177 stolen guns, 46 had been stolen from vehicles; this is higher than any other method of theft category for seized firearms.

The parental accountability initiative began in 2025 with seven parents arrested. Sheriff Lot says, “The goal of this initiative is not to lock parents up, it’s to force parents to be parents.”

There were 110 families served by our Youth Services Division in 2025. There was a 40% increase in contacts to our Youth Services Division for help in 2025 compared to 2024 with 275 contacts in 2025 and 197 contacts in 2024. This increase is attributed to our parental accountability initiative. Our Youth Services’ Youth Arbitration Program has been awarded the Best Diversionary Program (5th Circuit), among 16 circuits, by the Solicitor’s Office for three years in a row.

List murder by date:

1. 01/28/25 - Miles Bowman Rd

2. 03/1925 - 100 Willow Oak Dr

3. 04/16/25 - Congaree Church Rd

4. 05/31/25 - Southern Dr

5. 06/04/25 - Faraway Dr

6. 06/08/25 - Percival Rd

7. 06/14/25 - Candlelite D

8. 06/30/25 - Chain Gang Rd

9. 07/02/25 - Broad River Rd

10. 07/27/25 - Longcreek Dr

11. 07/29/25 - Faraway Dr

12. 08/05/25 - Woodside Ave

13. 08/22/25 - Southern Dr

14. 09/14/25 - Two Notch Rd

15. 09/15/25 - Haygood Rd

16. 09/21/25 - Mellowood Dr

17. 09/23/25 - Aster Cir

18. 09/28/25 - Forest Walk Ct

19. 10/05/25 - Decker Blvd

20. 11/01/25 - Camp Ground Rd

21. 11/11/25 - Nearview Dr

22. 11/22/25 - Garners Ferry Rd/Leeward Loop

23. 11/27/25 - Fairfield Rd

24. 11/29/25 - Percival Rd

25. 12/12/25 - Hunt Club Rd

26. 12/20/25 - Polo Rd