Victim in domestic-related shooting identified as suspect turns self in

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A torrid relationship ended in gunfire late Wednesday night as a man turned a gun on his girlfriend at a residence on Burdock Circle, according to the Richland County Sheriff's Department.

In a 10 a.m. news conference, Sheriff Leon Lott detailed the relationship 53-year-old John Corbett had with his girlfriend in the weeks leading up to the 8 p.m. fatal shooting that also saw another man wounded.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts identified the victim as Akawandalis Byrd. She was taken to the hospital where she died about an hour after the shooting. Watts said she died of a gunshot wound to the chest.

Byrd, according to Lott, had actually previously been arrested for stabbing Corbett just last month. Corbett even bailed her out of jail.

But it all came to ahead Wednesday night when investigators said Corbett came to the Burdock Circle residence and told the three residents inside, which included Byrd, that he came to kill them all.

Investigators are still trying to piece together what exactly happened next, but they say Corbett opened fire and shot Byrd, a male victim, and missed a second female.

The male victim was immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment. At last check, he was listed in serious condition.

The second female is okay, according to Lott.

Corbett has since been charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Lott underscored the news conference with a discussion on domestic violence issues in South Carolina.

"This is something we've been talking about for a long time, that we just have not been able to make any progress, and that's domestic violence related murders," said Lott. "Our murders are up this year and I contribute that directly to domestic violence murders we're having."

Lott says his his team is working hard to try and put an end to domestic violence, but this case, he says, is proof, it's not enough.

"This is just a cycle we haven't been able to break in Richland County or in the state of South Carolina and sadly to say, I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel," Lott said.

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