A tragic incident where three South Carolina teenagers were shot and killed, with a focus on the details of the incident, the arrests made, and the broader issue of teen gun violence in the area.
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Rising Teen Gun Violence Claims Three Lives of South Carolina Teenagers. (Photo: KMVT)
Fatal Shooting Claims Lives of Three South Carolina Teenagers
According to the article of KCRG, three South Carolina teenagers lost their lives over the weekend, with two other teenagers now in custody in connection with the incident. The victims, 16-year-olds Caleb Wise and Dre’von Riley, and 17-year-old Jakobe Fanning, met a tragic end in Columbia.
On Sunday, Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) deputies responded to a shooting call at Saddletrail Road, where they found four individuals with gunshot wounds. Caleb, Dre’von, and Jakobe later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, while the fourth victim, a 14-year-old, survived. During a press conference, Sheriff Leon Lott revealed that the shooting stemmed from a burglary that occurred years ago. Two 17-year-olds, Jahkeem Griffin and Karlos Gibson, have been arrested and face multiple charges.
The tragedy deeply affects Eau Claire High School and Alcorn Middle School, where the victims were students, according to Superintendent Craig Witherspoon.
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16 Fatalities Since 2015, 17 Tragedies in 2023
As indicated in the article of Fox 19, data from the Columbia Police Department shows that since 2015, 131 teenagers aged 15 to 19 have been victims of gun violence in the city, with 16 fatalities. This number does not include incidents in Richland County or the recent Saddletrail Road shooting, falling under RCSD jurisdiction. Furthermore, RCSD data on teen shootings is currently unavailable.
Tragically, the trend of teenagers falling victim to gun violence in Columbia reached a peak in 2021 and 2022, with 24 incidents each year. In 2023, 17 teenagers have already been victims of gun violence in the city.
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