Columbia’s ABC News affiliate reports:
The Columbia Police Department confirmed that around 2:03 p.m. they were called to the scene of a shooting inside of Columbiana Centre. This triggered a response from the Columbia Police Department, amd the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Chief Skip Holbrook said no one was killed in the shooting but 12 people were injured. Ten of those people were hit by gunfire. Two were trampled in the crowd as people tried to escape.
Eight people are in the hospital, two them went by themselves to the hospital. Six of those are in stable condition and two are in critical condition. The youngest victim is 15-years-old and the oldest is 73. Holbrook said police do not believe this is a random shooting and that the people knew each other.
For those people still inside the mall, you can call 9-1-1 or 803-252-2911 and tell the dispatchers your location. Dispatchers will notify law enforcement immediately. Again, multiple law enforcement agencies/ officers are on scene to assist #ColumbiaPDSC.
— Columbia Police Dept (@ColumbiaPDSC) April 16, 2022
Statement from @ColumbianaCtr: “Today’s isolated, senseless act of violence is extremely upsetting and our thoughts are with everyone impacted. We are grateful for the quick response and continued support of our security team and our partners in law enforcement.”
— Columbia Police Dept (@ColumbiaPDSC) April 16, 2022
NEW: Officials say they don’t believe South Carolina mall shooting was “random.”
“We believe that the individuals that were armed knew each other and there was some kind of conflict that occurred that resulted in gunfire.” https://t.co/zWBou9ZI5w pic.twitter.com/tPw89qOGK2
— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2022
One person hid under a table as people fled all around her during a shooting at Columbia, South Carolina’s Columbiana mall in the Harbison area. https://t.co/XGqlbdQpc1
— The Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) April 16, 2022
Just imagine a country where our politicians actually valued life so that our children could learn without fear of gun violence and those we love can visit a mall without fear of gun violence. This is the REAL American issue to solve. https://t.co/Xk4W9aBAPM
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 16, 2022
Another unfortunate exercise of Second Amendment freedoms.https://t.co/WuBsZdopkQ
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) April 16, 2022