Columbia police have arrested one suspect after Saturday’s shooting, and it is searching to arrest the other two.
The shooting held at the Columbiana Centre mall.
There were 12 people injured that has raised to 14, according to officers.
The Officers announced after 12 a.m. Sunday that 22-year-old Jewayne Price is charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol.
They are consulting with the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office about possible additional charges.
Police detained three people, out of which, they arrested Price, and released the other two, after realizing their innocence.
Police are skeptical of the number of people firing their guns that injured multiple people.
They believe that at least three suspects were displaying firearms inside the mall.
Police has updated that the injuries have risen to 14 people, which includes 9 people from gunshot wounds, and the remaining five have suffered major injuries, like, broken bones, cuts, and a head injury as well.
A 73-year-old woman is still hospitalized. Yet, the other injured have been treated and released.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said that the shooting is not a random one.
He believes the people involved knew each other, and the incident likely came from an ongoing conflict.
Police are asking for further information from the people involved in the event.
The victims have ages from 15 to 73 years old.
Some were taken to nearby Prisma Health Parkridge, while others went to Prisma Health Richland and Lexington Medical Center.
Witnesses told that they heard multiple gun shots from inside the building.
They also saw some severe and apparent injuries.
Daniel Johnson at the mall when the chaos started. “I was just enjoying some food in the food court and kind of heard the shots and then I saw just a mob of people running toward the doors.”
He added, “People were getting stepped on and trampled.”
According to police, they went door to door to get people out of where they were hiding.
The Columbiana Mall management stated, “Today’s isolated, senseless act of violence is extremely upsetting and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.”
They continued that they are grateful for the people who supported their team and law enforcement agencies.
The management said that the mall will be closed until further notice.
Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann denounced the incident, saying, “Our community is saddened by this senseless shooting and the pain it caused to innocent bystanders. Our focus is on getting them treated right now and on being supportive of the multiple law enforcement agencies working together to bring these criminals to justice.”
