Police in South Carolina have announced that a woman has been taken into custody in connection with a July 14 shooting in Richland County that resulted in the death of a 29-year-old man. After being questioned by detectives at a Columbia police facility, she was transported to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center for processing. She has been charged with possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent felony and murder.
The shooting occurred in an apartment complex on Colleton Street in Columbia according to media reports. The events that led to the woman’s arrest began when a Columbia Police Department officer was flagged down by a local resident who said that a man in one of the apartments was badly injured. The officer says that he called for backup after observing the victim lying on the apartment floor.
Police officers who responded to the scene say that the woman initially refused to allow them into the apartment. Officers allegedly made several attempts to gain entry. Once inside, the officers extracted the victim and performed first aid until paramedics arrived. The man was then transported in an ambulance to a nearby hospital. He was pronounced dead a short time later. A coroner concluded that he had died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police have not speculated about a possible motive for the crime.
The penalties for violent crimes like homicide are extremely harsh, and prosecutors could be less willing to reduce the penalties when suspects were apprehended at the scene and resisted police officers. This is why experienced criminal defense attorneys may advise individuals facing serious criminal charges to remain calm, follow the instructions given by law enforcement and say nothing until they have spoken with a lawyer. Attorneys may then assess the evidence gathered by police to determine the most prudent course of action.