Press Releases

02/20/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an assault that occurred February 19, 2026, in the 6900 block area of North Trenholm Road. On February 19, around 9:30pm, deputies responded to the incident location in reference to a shooting hit. Deputies were advised that the victim had been transported by EMS to a local hospital. RCSD investigators responded to the hospital to meet with the victim. It was at that time, investigators learned the victim’s in

02/19/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Pamela Schronce (30), in connection to a scam regarding the purchase of boutique items. RCSD investigators received a report that a victim purchased several items from Schronce’s Thomas & Turner Boutique, totaling of over $200, that were never provided to her.  The victim tried several times to reach out to Schronce to have the issue resolved and Schronce failed to return any communication or refunds. Pamela Schronce has been

02/19/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department continues the search for Sabrina Heinz, who has been missing since January 28, 2026. RCSD investigators continue to follow leads in the search for Ms. Heinz. There is reason to believe that she may have been picked up on the interstate and could possibly be anywhere by now. On February 6, 2026, RCSD requested the FBI’s assistance and continues to partner in the search for Sabrina to help locate her. “The FBI has different tech

02/19/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating after deputies responded to an aggravated assault on the 500 block of Spindrift Ln.   On February 18, 2026, at approximately 5:00 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of Spindrift Ln for an assault involving a weapon. Deputies located a victim with a laceration to her head and blood on her clothing in the area. Deputies tended to the victim until EMS arrived on scene and transported her to the hospi

02/18/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Ashley Murff (42) in reference to an assault at Sam’s Club over the weekend. Investigators were able to view surveillance footage from Sam’s Club of the incident and determine that Murff was the primary aggressor. Murff was identified, and investigators obtained a warrant for her arrest. On February 18, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., investigators arrested Murff and charged her with Assault and Battery 3rd Degree. She was

02/16/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Rasheed Hawkins (23) in reference to the murder on Cutlers Ct.   Investigators were able to determine that Hawkins and the victim met at the location for the sale of an iPhone. Hawkins intended to rob the victim which led to the victim being shot several times.    On Monday February 16, 2026, at approximately 1:00 a.m., RCSD’s Fugitive Task Force and Special Response Team located Hawkins and placed him under arrest. During a

02/15/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Cutlers Ct. On February 15, 2026, at approximately 1:10 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 10 block of Cutlers Ct in reference to someone being shot. Once on scene, deputies located the victim inside of a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. Deputies began to render aid to the victim until EMS arrived to transport the victim to the hospital where he succu

02/14/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating after an assault occurred at Sam’s Club over a racial slur. On February 14, 2026, at approximately 1:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to 733 Fashion Dr. for a report of an assault. Deputies spoke with the victim who stated that while she was in line at the store, a woman used a racial slur towards her. The victim told deputies that this resulted in a verbal dispute between the two of them. The victim told dep

02/13/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a suspicious fire that occurred at Bent Tree apartment complex. On February 11, 2026, just before 6:00 a.m., deputies were requested to 1000 Bent Tree Ln by the Columbia Fire Department for a suspicious fire. Deputies were informed that there was a fire at the leasing office of the complex which was deemed suspicious, and forced entry was observed at the location. The Richland County Fire Marshal’s Office is i

02/10/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department announces the arrest of Davonte Miles (22). On February 10, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of Bluff Rd. and S Stadium Rd. for an improper display of the vehicle tag and window tint violation. After smelling the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle during the traffic stop, a search was conducted of the vehicle. During the search, approximately 20 individual bags of gr

02/09/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Naji Capri Hughes in reference to a driving under the influence incident. On February 7, 2026, just before midnight, Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the area of 7800 Farrow Road in reference to a wrong-way driver. Deputies located the driver, Naji Capri Hughes, on Pisgah Church Road and initiated a traffic stop. After conducting field sobriety testing with Hughes, deputies placed Hughes under arrest

01/28/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the findings of the Citizens Advisory Council following their review of the incident that occurred on December 6, 2025 and televised on On-Patrol: Live. As previously stated, the case was presented to both the Council and the Magistrate for review. On, Saturday, January 17, 2026 the Citizens Advisory Council had the opportunity to review all the information to include body cam, and dash cam videos. Following a thorough review, they recomme

01/28/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Cohanskie Goodson, 30, after using excessive force on an inmate in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. On January 22, 2026, at just before 3:00 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center at the request of an investigator working at the jail. It was reported to deputies that a corrections officer within the jail utilized a knee strike to an inmate’s face causing a laceration above his eye and render

1/19/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a stabbing leaving one injured at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (ASGDC). On January 19, 2026, at approximately 12:00 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a stabbing at the ASGDC. When deputies arrived at the scene, they located a male with multiple stab wounds wound to the upper body. The victim was transported to a local hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

01/15/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Ronnie Scott (56), the former Youth Challenge Program Director at McCrady Training Center, for assault. On October 9, 2025, the Office of the Inspector General notified the Richland County Sheriff’s Department of a complaint against the McCrady Training Center for an assault against a cadet within its Youth Challenge Program. Investigators were provided with the complaint and video surveillance of the incident described in th

01/09/2026 On January 8, 2026, around 8:30pm, deputies responded to 219 Briarcliffe West, Elgin, in reference to a vehicle sinking in a pond. Upon arrival, deputies did observe a white truck fully submerged in the water and initiated a water recovery operation. Fire, EMS, and RCSD’s Dive Team responded to the scene. When the vehicle was recovered from the water, there were no occupants inside. Deputies discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen from the Harbison Boulevar

01/08/2026 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Daquan Wilson (DOB: 4/22/97) in connection with a shooting that occurred on January 7, 2026, at the 300 block of Percival Road. On January 7, 2026, around 12:30pm, deputies responded to the 1000 block of North Kings Street in reference to a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies located the victim, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper body. The victim was transported by EMS to a local hospital with non-life threate

1/8/2026 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Michael Liggett (72) in connection with voyeurism - secretly photographing victims without their knowledge. On December 25, 2025, deputies at RCSD Headquarters received a telephone report from one of Liggett’s family members that explicit photos had been found on Liggett’s cellphone. The complainant also stated they found a hidden camera inside Liggett’s home in Richland County. RCSD investigators obtained a search warrant fo

01/07/2026 On January 5, 2026, around 11:15pm, a Richland County deputy in his patrol vehicle was hit by another driver while working extra duty at a road construction site on I-126 West near the entrance ramp from Colonial Life Boulevard. The deputy, Jordan Knight, was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and subsequently released; the suspect driver, David Dudley (64) declined EMS. The construction crew was unharmed. “We are very fortunate that our deputy is okay

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