04/29/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded, at the request of SLED, to the area of Harbison and I-26 in reference to a wanted fugitive out of Anderson County believed to be travelling through the area. Law enforcement located the suspect and initiated a vehicle stop at I-26 and 378 (Sunset Blvd). The suspect failed to stop, initiating a short vehicle pursuit into downtown Columbia. The pursuit ended at Blossom and Assembly St., where the suspect fled from the

04/27/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a stabbing at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. On April 27, 2026, around 2:45 p.m., deputies were dispatched to ASGDC in reference to a call from the jail reporting a stabbing incident. Upon arrival, deputies were informed the inmate suffered multiple stab wounds and is being transported by EMS to a local hospital. He was alert and conscious at the time of transport. This is an ongoing investigation.

04/24/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Jeremiah Bradley (18) in relation to the shooting on Longcreek Dr that left one dead. After obtaining video footage and interviewing witnesses, investigators were able to determine that Bradley shot at the victim numerous times after encountering each other. Bradley and the victim were known to each other. On April 23, 2026, Bradley was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with Murder and Possession of a We

04/23/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on the 1600 block of Longcreek Dr this afternoon. On April 23, 2026, at approximately 12:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a shooting at the 1600 block of Longcreek Dr. When deputies arrived on scene, they located an unresponsive male with gunshot wounds to the upper body and EMS arrived to render aid. The male was pronounced deceased by EMS at the scene, and the Richla

04/20/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 3800 block of Humphrey Drive. On April 19, 2026, at approximately 10:20 p.m., deputies responded to a reported vehicle collision with injuries. Upon arrival, deputies located a vehicle that had struck a tree. Deputies made entry into the vehicle and began rendering aid to the sole occupant, an adult male. EMS arrived on scene and, while providing treatment, discovered the

04/18/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting incident that occurred at the 200 block of Pond Ridge Road East. On April 18, 2026, around 10:30 am, deputies responded to the incident location in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located one adult male deceased on scene and one adult female with a single gunshot wound to the upper body. The investigation revealed the deceased male, Christopher Todd (DOB: 04/02/0987), shot the female

04/17/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Elliot Collier in reference to a shots fired incident. Over the last few weeks, RCSD deputies have been receiving shots fired calls in the area of Main Street (Old Eastover) and McCords Ferry Road between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. On April 16, 2026, deputies staged in the area in an attempt to locate the shots fired as they occurred. Around 8:30 pm, deputies heard several shots fired over the span of a couple of minutes, with the sou

04/17/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has cleared Rhine Falls Ln for normal operations. On April 17, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 500 block of Rhine Falls Ln for a domestic violence incident. Deputies spoke with the victim a short distance from the location of the incident. Preliminary information revealed that the suspect struck the victim in the face and strangled her, victim’s injuries were consistent with an assault. The vi

04/17/26 @ 2:40 PM RCSD deputies and Special Response Team are at the 500 block of Rhine Falls Lane in reference to a barricaded suspect. Sandfarm Trail from Fls Rdg Lane to Swift Current Loop and all of Rhine Falls Lane are closed. Drivers need to utilize an alternate route at this time.

04/17/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an attempted ATM theft in Blythewood. On April 17, 2026, at approximately 2:40 a.m., deputies responded to an alarm at First Community Bank. Upon arrival, deputies discovered an ATM had been forcibly removed from the ground and left lying on its side, partially cracked open. Money remained inside the machine. Through the investigation, deputies obtained surveillance footage showing a pickup truck, believed to

04/17/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating another non-fatal overdose at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. On April 16, 2026, just after 1:00pm, deputies responded to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in reference to an inmate overdosing. Upon arrival, deputies were informed that the inmate was being transported by EMS to a local hospital for treatment. The inmate was alert and conscious at the time of transport. Jail staff on scene informed deputies they

04/14/26 Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested a man Monday evening (4/13/26) after he followed a young girl, between the ages of 9 and 11 years old, into a restroom at a local restaurant and sexually assaulted her. On April 13, 2026, around 7:00 p.m., deputies responded to a restaurant at the 2600 block of Decker Boulevard in reference to a suspicious person. When deputies arrived, the restaurant owner provided surveillance footage showing an adult male, lat

04/10/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of Khila Wood (29) in connection with a shooting that occurred on Nancy Avenue. On April 9, 2026, around 7:20 p.m., deputies were dispatched to Audrey Lane in reference to a ShotSpotter alert. While enroute, deputies were advised by dispatch that someone was struck by gunfire in the area of the ShotSpotter alert near Nancy Avenue. Upon arrival, deputies located a witness and two pools of blood. Upon further investigation, deputi

04/09/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces charges made against an inmate in yesterday’s stabbing that occurred at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. On April 8, 2026, investigators responded to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center to investigate the stabbing that occurred. Investigators learned through witness interviews that the victim and another inmate were involved in a verbal altercation near the victim’s room. Shortly after, the suspect was seen fleeing the room by witnesse

04/08/26 The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is aware of an inmate death that occurred at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on the evening of April 7th, 2026. Based on information provided, detention center staff located an unresponsive inmate at approximately 7:00 p.m. EMS was requested, and upon arrival, the individual was found to be unresponsive and already exhibiting signs consistent with death. The inmate was transported to a local hospital at 8:34 p.m., where he

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

04/06/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrests of Rodney Gibson (50) and Kawiana Young (50) in relation to abuse against children. On March 12, 2026, it was reported to deputies that a victim came forward in reference to sexual abuse while in foster care in the home of Gibson and Young. The victim shared that Gibson sexually assaulted her numerous times beginning at the age of 15 until she aged out of foster care as an adult. An investigation was o

April 3rd, 2026 By: W. Thomas Smith Jr. Three real incidents show how South Carolina deputies made split-second decisions to save lives — moments the public rarely sees Master Deputy Geoffrey Kendall, Corporal Avery Arrington and Master Deputy Monica Parker of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, whose quick actions in separate incidents helped save lives. In my near-10 years with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) in Columbia, South Carolina, I’ve learned a

04/01/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces the sentencing for Jaquice Williams (21) following his arrest for a crash that killed 2 women. In the early morning hours of July 17, 2023, a Richland County deputy spotted a vehicle that was reported stolen out of the City of Columbia. When the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on Mallet Hill Road, the driver fled. The officer lost sight of the vehicle and while searching the area, deputies were notified by dispatch that a vehicle h

04/01/26 Sheriff Leon Lott announces that the Richland County Court of Common Pleas has dismissed a false arrest claim brought against the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, affirming the lawfulness of the Department’s actions in connection with a 2019 incident. Joseph Cantwell, through his attorneys, The Shealey Law Firm, brought a lawsuit against the Richland County Sheriff’s Department alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, assault and battery, defamation, neglig