Arrest Made in Byron Road Fatal Shooting; Additional Suspect Wanted

Columbia Police Chief W.H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook announces an arrest in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred on Byron Road last week.

Donald Moore (DOB: 12-17-1992) is charged with Murder, Burglary- First Degree, Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime and Possession of a Handgun by a Person Convicted of a Crime of Violence.  Moore was released from a local hospital today after receiving injuries from the incident and taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (ASGDC).

CPD investigators are also searching for Rashu Ahemn (DOB: 7-24-1991), Moore’s alleged co-defendant.  Arrest warrants for Murder, Attempted Murder, Burglary – First Degree, Armed Robbery, Possession of a Firearm by Person Convicted of a Violent Crime, and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.  Ahemn should be considered armed and dangerous.

Incident Recap:

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on June 26, 2020, investigators believe Ahemn and Moore forced their way inside an apartment at 350 Byron Road. Ahemn is accused of physically assaulting the female and when the male victim tried to protect her, Ahemn shot him.  As the female tried to escape, suspect Ahemn allegedly shot her in the lower body. She was treated and released from a local hospital soon after the crime.

Before the fatal injuries, the male victim shot suspect Moore in the upper body before Moore ran away from the scene. CPD officers found Moore when they arrived on Byron Road and called for EMS to take him to a local hospital.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts has identified the male victim as 46-year-old Troy Devon Thomas. According to an autopsy, Thomas died from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

All persons arrested/charged are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Chief Holbrook encourages citizens with information about the crime or Ahemn’s whereabouts 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.

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