Columbia Police Department officers are investigating a fatal gang-related shooting that occurred last night in North Columbia.
Shortly before 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2019, CPD officers were on patrol in the Norman Street area and heard multiple gunshots. After immediately circulating the neighborhood, they received a ShotSpotter alert confirming the gunfire location.
Within seconds of the alert, officers responded to 4813 Norman Street and found the 23-year-old male victim deceased outside. According Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, Keon Tucker (DOB: 2-5-1996) died as a result of a gunshot wound to the upper body.
During the CPD response, hundreds of people gathered on Norman Street after the funeral of the male who was recently shot and killed on Hallbrook Drive in the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction. Officers saw large crowds gathered in the roadway; many people ran from the scene when the initial gunshots were fired.
After circulating the area and maintaining crowd control, officers collected ballistic evidence from the crime scene and discovered that a Silas Brook Court home was struck by gunfire. There were no reports of injuries at the home. Additional officers worked to calm down a hostile crowd after Tucker was found.
Chief W. H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook says, “These ruthless, conscious less trigger pullers have a complete lack of respect for themselves and others, and a disregard for the sanctity of life. Our community should be outraged by the level of gun violence being perpetrated in our neighborhoods.”
The Midlands Gang Task Force which is comprised of law enforcement agencies including CPD and RCSD are working together regarding this investigation.
Chief Holbrook encourages citizens with information about the incident to contact CRIMESTOPPERS in any of the following ways:
CALL toll-free, 888-CRIME-SC.
LOG onto: www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a tip” tab.
DOWNLOAD the new P3 Tips App for Apple or Android devices.