Persons of interest sought after man killed in McDonald's parking lot

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Columbia Police have identified two persons of interest in a fatal shooting at a McDonald's restaurant over the weekend.

Officials say 20-year-old Steve McCoy of Elgin was one of three people hit by bullets around 9 p.m. in the parking lot of the restaurant located at 2911 Two Notch Road, which is near Beltline Blvd. McCoy died from his injuries at the hospital.

Based on preliminary investigation, police say two groups of people were involved in an argument that may have led to the shooting. Investigators are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and if more than one gun was used.

Police have released surveillance video of the two men they'd like to question about the incident.

The persons of interest in the video are described as the black male wearing a white, short-sleeved 'polo' shirt with short 'twists' in his hair. He is seen at the bottom right hand of the surveillance video.

The other male is seen wearing a black T-shirt with big white lettering on the front, dark shorts that are worn past his knee caps, and a baseball cap with white lettering. He is seen eating food from the McDonald's bag.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said an autopsy showed McCoy died from a gunshot wound to the head.

When asked if police believe this had anything to do with the Capital City Classic, Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott disagreed.

"We had very little to no incidents involving the classic, so this has no relation to the classic whatsoever," Scott said.

But those who were there say the crowd was a majority of people who'd been at the event.  The shooting shattered restaurant windows, now covered in plywood, sending those inside to the floor.

Two others were hit by bullets, but police have not released the nature of their injuries.

"It's very sad that someone had that lack of regard for the citizens and the community around them," said Scott.

Investigators are trying to identify the people involved. If you know anything that can help, you are urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

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