COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – One person was killed and three others were hurt after a shooting in Columbia early Friday.
Deputy Chief Melron Kelly with the Columbia Police Department said a call for shots fired came in at around 5:15 a.m. on Lincoln Street in the Elmwood Park neighborhood.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook later told WIS that the shooting occurred at home being used as an Airbnb on the 2400 block of Lincoln Street amid a gathering of “young adults.”
Holbrook said four people were shot, one of whom died from their injuries. The other three victims were taken to a hospital, but no additional word was provided on their condition.
Holbrook said an initial call came in from the area about a car break-in and then changed to shots fired. Then, an additional call came in reporting that the shooting was deadly.
Ebonn Twilley, who has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years, told WIS she was the one who called 911. She said at first she thought it was a car break-in after she saw someone crouching down behind her neighbor’s car with a visible toolbox.
However, Twilley said that soon changed when she stepped outside and heard screaming from the home next door.
“No one deserves to lose their life,” she said. “It could have been a rogue bullet that came into my house and I’m not okay with that. I don’t know where we go from here, but I don’t want the place that I live to be scary.”
Holbrook said he believes the shooting was an isolated incident and there’s no greater threat to the community.
Meanwhile, a potential suspect remains at large as of Friday afternoon.
“We do know, however, that someone did flee the scene that we believe is armed and dangerous,” said Holbrook. “But we have no information or any information that would suggest there was another targeted incident somewhere.”
Airbnb provided the following statement to WIS regarding the incident:
We condemn this senseless and tragic gun violence, and our thoughts are with all those impacted by it. Our Safety team has removed the account of the guest who booked this reservation, and our law enforcement support team has reached out to Columbia Police to offer our assistance with their investigation.
The company also said it has temporarily suspended the listing at the home where the shooting occurred as the investigation continues.
The Elmwood Park Neighborhood Association responded to the shooting as well, saying:
“This was a completely preventable tragedy and crime in our neighborhood.
There are good reasons the City of Development (zoning) stays of less than 30 days in residentially zoned districts.
“To our knowledge, not a single point has been issued to the more than 20 known STRs in our neighborhood since this ordinance was introduced. We do know that dozens of neighbors have made complaints about all manner of violations to CPD and Code Enforcement.”
This is a developing story. Stay with WIS News 10 for updates.
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