‘This should not be happening’: 3 slain S.C. teens mourned
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Three teenagers died and one person was injured in a shooting Sunday in the 200 block of Saddletrail Road.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford identified the victims as 16-year-old Caleb Wise, Dre’von Riley, and Jakobe Fanning, both 17.
The fourth teenage victim suffered a gunshot wound to the lower body and has been released from a hospital, deputies said.
A 17-year-old was arrested and charged with three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
MORE FROM NEWS 12:
- McCormick inmate charged with sexually assaulting correctional officer
- Deputies search for 17-year-old considered armed and dangerous
- 3 CSRA residents prosecuted over federal firearms charges
“Sadly, I stand here again to talk about something that seems to be a reoccurring theme that we have, not just in Richland County, but across the nation,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a news conference Monday.
Lott said the shooting was over something that happened a couple of years ago.
“A beef that just continues to grow, then young people decide that they’re going to solve it by shooting,” Lott said. He didn’t give further details on what it was that happened.
ing Lott at the news conference were Gretchen Barron, who represents District 7 on the Richland County Council, and state Rep. Kambrell Garvin, along with Richland County School District One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon.
“Here we are once again,” Barron said.
“Just last year on the same street was another incident. Many people have made phone calls and made posts and said ... ‘Elected officials, y’all need to do something.’ Well, we can’t legislate good behavior,” Barron continued. “We can’t legislate people making healthy choices. That’s what we have here today is that young people got guns and they made poor choices.”
The students involved attended Eau Claire High School and Alcorn Middle School, Lott confirmed.
Witherspoon said when incidents like this particular shooting happen, the district brings together their crisis team which includes counselors, mental health professionals, social workers and staff to students and help them process what happened.
“We have to give our young people an opportunity to express their emotions to see if they are indeed alright and to let them know that sometimes it’s alright not to be alright,” Witherspoon said. “This should not be happening.”
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
