Press Conferences

08/20/26 Sheriff Leon Lott discusses three incidents involving firearms at Richland County schools, parent accountability, and safe gun storage ahead of SMART week. On August 18, 2026, around 7:30 AM, a student at JP Thomas Elementary reported seeing a 6-year-old child on the school bus with a “BB gun”. School administration notified the School Resource Officer. An AR Pistol, loaded with .300 Blackout rounds, was removed from the 6-year-old’s bag and safely secured. The c

08/07/26 Sheriff Leon Lott discusses the traffic stop that lead to deputies returning gunfire during a K9 track off of Leesburg Road and Harmon Road. Yesterday, August 6, 2026 just after 1:00 pm, Master Deputy Tavon Polk attempted to make a traffic stop on Lorenzo-Davis Road on a silver Chevy sedan for a suspended tag. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, initiating a vehicle pursuit. The suspect vehicle subsequently wrecked at Harmon Road and Leesburg Road and all occu

08/04/26 Today, August 4th, is National Night Out. National Night Out is a nation-wide event promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Tonight, there will be dozens of neighborhoods celebrating National Night Out right here in Richland County. Sheriff Leon Lott discusses the increase of copper thefts in the Midlands and how the community can help. In the Midlands, AT&T alone has been the victim of 105 copper thefts year-to-date. Since October 2025,

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

06/23/26 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,

06/12/26 Sheriff Leon Lott provides additional information on the shootings that occurred on June 4th, in the northeast side of Richland County; leading to a shoot-out with deputies and one man dead. On June 4, 2026, around 12:15 am, “Team B” does a drive-by shooting of “Team A” at the 200 block of Sagamare Road. Team A then gathers at the 300 block of Legend Oaks. Around 1:50 a.m. Team A does a retaliatory shooting of Team B at the 400 block of Spring Oak Lane and return t

06/04/26 Sheriff Leon Lott discusses several early morning shootings that lead to deputies returning fire following a K9 track. Today, June 4, 2026 just after midnight, deputies were dispatched to a shooting incident at the 200 block of Sagamare Road. Patrol deputies contacted the residents at that location, no individuals were injured but the house and vehicles had been struck multiple times by gun fire. A short time later, approximately 1:50 a.m. deputies were dispatched to

05/12/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Corey Gibbons (44; DOB: 09/21/81) and stresses the importance of SROs in schools following the shooting incident that occurred at Horrell Hill Elementary School on the afternoon of May 11, 2026. On May 11, 2026, at approximately 1:15 p.m., the SRO of Horrell Hill Elementary School was patrolling the area of the school to ensure the safety of students when a vehicle began to follow her. The vehicle continued to fo

05/10/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting involving a Forest Acres police officer at Relapse Bar & Grill located at 5024 Two Notch Rd. On May 10, 2026, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a Forest Acres police officer heard gun shots coming from the area of Two Notch Rd. near Relapse Bar & Grill. Another Forest Acres officer began to circulate the 5000 block of Two Notch Rd. when a vehicle driving erratically almost struck the officer’s vehicle. Th

05/07/2026 Sheriff Lott holds a Press Conference at RCSD Headquarters to discuss an organized scam by inmates. Sheriff Leon Lott announces fraud-related charges against multiple Georgia prisoners. In October, 2025, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation into a series of ruthless scam calls targeting victims in Richland County, SC. Following an extensive investigation, RCSD has identified 9 suspects, prisoners, involved in these cruel scams, all in

04/07/2026 Sheriff Lott holds a Press Conference at RCSD Headquarters to present partnership with Prisma Health for gun safety Sheriff Leon Lott announces a partnership with Prisma Health hospital to disperse gun boxes and gun locks to citizens. Prisma Health utilized a grant through the South Carolina Department of Public Health to purchase gun boxes and gun locks to encourage gun owners to properly secure firearms around children. Over the past two

03/07/2026 Sheriff Lott holds a Press Conference at RCSD Headquarters to present civilian with a Certificate of Appreciation

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 m