WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Officials seeking man who robbed, severely beat elderly woman

Officials seeking man who robbed, severely beat elderly woman

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Richland County sheriff's deputies are looking for a man they say robbed and severely beat an elderly woman.

Sheriff Leon Lott said the 68-year-old woman was at the Bi-Lo on Decker Boulevard at 8am Thursday when a man approached her. Lott says the man asked her a question and then started punching her in the face. Lott added that the suspect demanded the woman's purse and fled in a getaway vehicle driven by a second suspect.

Investigators say the suspect was wearing a red shirt and black pants and fled in a dark colored car. Deputies have produced a sketch of the man they are looking for.

At that same Bi-Lo, some shoppers, like Harriett Haywood are a little on edge.

"It's terrifying to know that things like that happen. I do my shopping in the daytime due to fear of night," Haywood said.

Now that this has happened, she doesn't really feel safe any time.

"I think we all have to be our brother's keeper," Haywood said. "Whenever I come out I'm going to watch for other people I see and hopefully they'll be doing the same for me."

For the getaway driver, investigators say if he doesn't come forward and they catch him first, that person could face the same assault charges as the assaulter.

As for the victim in this case, she was taken to a hospital and treated for her injuries.

The woman's daughter says her mother is out of the hospital but has severe injuries to her face. At this point they're hoping anyone who knows anything about what happened will come forward.

Lott called the incident a "senseless act of violence" and is pleading for anyone with information to call the sheriff's department or Crimestoppers.

Reported by Trey Paul

Posted by Jeremy Turnage