COLUMBIA, SC – A tragic shooting incident north of Columbia on Sunday afternoon resulted in the death of three high school students. The deceased, all students of Eau Claire High School, were identified by the Richland County Coroner as Jakobe Fanning, 16, Dre’Von Riley, 17, and Caleb Wise, 17.
The incident occurred in a residential area on Saddletrail Road, just outside of Columbia. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department reported that deputies were dispatched to the scene around 2 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims, including the three teenagers, were immediately transported to a local hospital. Unfortunately, Fanning, Riley, and Wise succumbed to their injuries. The fourth victim, whose age has not been disclosed, sustained a gunshot wound to the lower body and has since been released from the hospital.
While the investigation is ongoing, the sheriff’s department has not yet revealed any potential motives behind the shooting. They are actively seeking the individual responsible for the incident. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott will be providing an update on the case on Monday.
Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest there is no immediate threat to the public. Meanwhile, the Richland School District One confirmed the victims were students at Eau Claire High School.
In response to the tragedy, Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon expressed his condolences, stating the district is mourning the loss of three young lives to senseless gun violence. The school has deployed a Crisis Team to provide counseling and support to students and staff. There have also been additional security measures implemented on campus to prevent dangerous incidents from taking place in the future.