Victim identified in Columbia apartment shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting outside an apartment complex in Columbia that left one man dead.

Deputies responded to reports of a shooting at The Park apartments, 1601 Longcreek Drive, around 8:30 p.m. Saturday evening. This is located near Broad River Road, and just off Interstate 20.

An unresponsive man was located outside of the Park Apartments and pronounced dead at the scene. He has been identified as Saveon Robinson, 19, by Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.

In November, Travis Lamar Mitchell and Vashaun Alija Gaulman were arrested and charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting at 1401 Longcreek Drive, Waters at Longcreek Apartments.

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RCSD deputies determined the incident was drug-related.

26-year-old DaQuan Davis was fatally shot in the 1600 of Longcreek Drive in June of last year.

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As a result of these incidents, residents and local businesses are concerned about a rise in violence in the community.

The Broad River Business Alliance, a nonprofit made up of business leaders and community members, sent a letter to the Richland County Council detailing safety concerns.

In a statement, the organization said in part, “Our residents and small business owners are being terrorized within our own community and live in constant fear of retaliation, direct attack, or the fear of becoming a victim of gun violence as an innocent bystander.”

Danika George lives nearby and is surprised to see these incidents so close to home. She personally has not experienced any safety issues.

“I feel safe,” she said. “I mean I don’t feel no personal threat. I don’t feel like anybody would do anything. I mean you never know.”

One woman who lives at The Park is not surprised. She has lived there for eight years, and has some security concerns, specifically about how easily accessible the complex’s parking lot is from the street. She said this can lead to loitering late at night.

This issue is one that the Broad River Business Alliance is hoping to address. They are calling for a grant program that would fund motorized gates at the entrances to apartment complexes on Longcreek Drive.

Additionally, they are proposing a bricked cul-de-sac at 1600 Riverwind Drive, which would effectively make Longcreek Drive a one-way road and eliminate any outlet to Cambout Street. They are also seeking LED lighting and police cameras at the head of Longcreek Drive.

George is urging the community to resolve conflicts peacefully.

“Just don’t resort to violence,” she said. “It’s not the guns that are the problem, it’s the people. So I just say just stop the violence, that’s all. I mean because what’s the point of killing each other? It’s none. There’s already people out there doing that for us, so why do it?”

The investigation remains ongoing at this time. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department asks anyone with information to submit a tip to CrimeStoppers.

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