07/04/26 Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of a former deputy, Michael Kennedy, 36, on charges of DUI. On July 3, 2026, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the South Carolina Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that Kennedy was driving. Kennedy was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and was placed under arrest for DUI. He was off duty and in his personal car at the time of the arrest. He was booked into the Lexington County Detention C

07/02/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on the evening of July 1, 2026 that left one man injured. On July 1, 2026, at approximately 9:00 p.m., deputies received a call that someone had been shot and was in a vehicle on the way to the hospital. Deputies were notified that the vehicle pulled over in the Food Lion parking lot on Broad River Rd. Deputies responded to the Food Lion and located a victim with a gunshot

07/02/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Tyjae Miller (21; DOB: 03/17/05) in connection with the June 4th Summit shooting involving the attempted murder of RCSD deputies. On July 2, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Miller arrived to RCSD Headquarters and turned himself in directly to Sheriff Lott. Tyjae Miller is the 5th shooter from Team A in connection with shots fired at 3 RCSD deputies. Yesterday, July 1, 2026, the first arrest was made for Team B with the arre

07/01/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Aric Hicks (19; DOB: 09/07/06) – the first arrest in connection to the shooting on Sagamare Rd in the early hours of June 4th that later led to the Summit shooting. During the investigation of the shootings that took place on the morning of June 4, 2026, it was discovered that Hicks was one of several that participated in the original shooting on Sagamare Rd. On July 1, 2026, RCSD’s Fugitive Task Force apprehende

06/30/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces arrests made during longstanding investigation at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. On April 14, 2026, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was sent 62 cases that had been withheld by the jail; some incidents occurred as far back as December 2025. The incidents included a sexual assault, contraband, riots, vandalism and assaults of both guards and inmates as victims of these crimes. The first case that prompted further probing was t

06/29/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrests of Alicia Magwood (46; DOB: 8/22/79) and Arrington Jones (17; DOB: 7/19/08) for helping Sireon Beaufort who is charged with the attempted murder of three RCSD deputies. On June 4, 2026, several hours after the initial shooting, Magwood and Jones drove Beaufort back to the scene of the shooting to look for a bag containing firearms used in the shooting. The bag was collected as evidence prior to Beaufort’s return to

06/26/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Dathan Stukes (49; DOB: 05/16/77) after following a woman and claiming to be law enforcement. On June 21, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., deputies responded to the 100 block of Lost John Rd for a report of a woman being followed home. Deputies learned on scene that the victim was driving in her vehicle when a male in a vehicle behind her became agitated and began following her. When she arrived at her residence, she called

06/26/26 One suspect, Akeem Campbell (DOB: 5/16/92), is in custody following a pursuit that ended in the area of Benedict Street and Farrow Road. On June 26, 2026, at approximately 4:00 pm, deputies observed a vehicle fail to signal at Mason Road and Sinclair Drive. Deputies activated blue lights, at which time the driver, Campbell, failed to stop, initiating a pursuit. The pursuit ended when Campbell collided with two other vehicles in the area of Benedict Street and Farrow

06/26/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of James Taylor (DOB: 5/25/1978) in connection with a homicide that occurred in the early morning hours of June 26, 2026. On June 26, 2026, just after midnight, deputies responded to the 300 block of Green Rose Road in reference to a shooting the just occurred. Upon arrival, deputies located both the suspect, Taylor, and victim, and adult female, on scene. The victim suffered from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper and lower b

06/24/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Elijah Banks (18; DOB: 5/22/2008) in connection with a shooting incident that left one victim injured. After obtaining video footage and based on witness statements, investigators were able to determine Banks as the shooter. Statements indicate the victim was incorrectly identified by the shooter as his intended target. On June 9, 2026, Elijah Banks was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder and Possession of a Weapon Dur

06/23/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department announces a pursuit with a burglary suspect ending in a collision. At approximately 3:10 a.m., Richland County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to the 1800 block of Harlem Street in reference to a burglary. The suspect stole multiple items from the victim's residence, including her vehicle keys, before fleeing the scene in the victim's vehicle. Deputies circulated the area and located the stolen vehicle near Parklane Ro

06/23/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Azavius Jones (24; DOB: 10/04/01) in reference to the June 14th mass shooting at Jerk Hut. On June 22, 2026, RCSD’s Fugitive Task Force and Special Response Team located Jones at a location in Bennettsville where he was attempting the evade law enforcement. Jones was taken into custody on his nine warrants without incident. Jones is charged with Murder, five counts of Attempted Murder, Discharging a Firearm Into a Structure,

06/22/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of a former deputy, Sean Swayz, 28, on charges of Petit Larceny. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a potential theft involving Swayz. An investigation was opened and revealed that Swayz took a watch from the lost and found at the Richland County courthouse that did not belong to him. On June 19, 2026, Swayz was charged with Petit Larceny and booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The

06/22/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Sade Grooms (41; DOB: 06/18/85) for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. During the investigation of multiple shootings that led to the attempted murder of three deputies, a 16-year-old was charged in connection to the shootings. It was discovered that the mother of the 16-year-old, Grooms, has shown a pattern of a lack of responsibility for her juvenile son. Grooms was aware of her son’s criminal activity

06/21/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on Sandpine Cir. On June 21, 2026, at approximately 3:00 am, RCSD deputies responded to a possible home invasion call at the 200 block of Sandpine Circle. Shortly after arriving on Sandpine, deputies received a call for an individual struck by gunfire on Whitton Ln. Deputies responded and located an individual with a gunshot wound to the upper body. Deputies were able to confirm that t

06/17/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department continues its investigation into the shooting that occurred at the 100 block of John Ammons Road yesterday afternoon, June 16, 2026. Further investigation revealed the suspect and victim were engaged in a dispute when the suspect retrieved a firearm and shot the victim once. After being shot, the victim called 911. Before deputies arrived, the victim heard another gunshot. Upon arrival, deputies observed the suspect with an ap

06/17/26 Sheriff Leon Lott and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance in obtaining any information regarding the disappearance and homicide of Shelton John Sanders. Twenty-five years have passed since Shelton Sanders disappeared, but RCSD and his family have never stopped searching for answers. On June 19, 2001, 25-year-old Shelton Sanders was last seen at 1132 Olympia Ave. in Columbia, SC. He later visited 3 local hotels that evening mak

06/16/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the completion of the investigation of the May 10th shooting involving a Forest Acres Police Officer. On June 15, 2026, RCSD’s Critical Incident Team finished gathering data and evidence in the shooting of Cody Johnson at Relapse Bar & Grill. This morning, the information and evidence gathered from the investigation was forwarded to the Solicitor’s Office to make a determination of if the shooting was justified or not. ### ON

06/16/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred at the 100 block of John Ammons Road in Eastover this afternoon. On June 16, just after 3:00 pm, deputies responded to the 100 block of John Ammons Road in reference to a shooting that just occurred. Upon arrival, deputies located two adult men suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputies immediately began providing medical aid until EMS personnel arrived. One of the individuals was p

06/15/26 Sheriff Leon Lott is providing an update regarding the shooting investigation in the 1000 block of Zimalcrest Drive. At this time, investigators have confirmed that five individuals sustained gunshot wounds as a result of the incident. In addition, one person has died from their injuries. The Richland County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this shooting. Additional information will be released as it becomes available. This