Donald Wheeler Arrested in Columbia Shootings
Donald Wheeler, a 75-year-old man, was arrested Monday afternoon following a series of shooting incidents in northeast Columbia that left one woman dead and another injured, wistv.com reported. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced the arrest in connection with the violence, which investigators determined began around noon Monday in the 100 block of Palmetto Park Circle. The suspect’s pending legal counts include murder, first-degree burglary, two counts of attempted murder, and three counts of possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He is currently held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
Deputies Respond to Palmetto Park Circle
The emergency response started when deputies arrived at Palmetto Park Circle and found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds to her upper and lower body. Deputies provided immediate aid until emergency medical services arrived to transport the victim to a local hospital. According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect had already fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Investigators broadcast a vehicle description to surrounding agencies, leading deputies to stop a matching vehicle near Koon Store Road and detain Wheeler.
Second Victim Found on Reseda Drive
Information gathered from the first victim at the hospital directed deputies to conduct a welfare check at a home in the 300 block of Reseda Drive. Inside the residence, deputies located a second female victim who had sustained an upper body gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene, though the coroner’s office has not yet released her identity. Residents in the area expressed surprise at the violence, noting the neighborhood’s quiet, family-oriented reputation over two decades.
Third Woman Targeted on Koon Store Road
Investigators traced the suspect’s movements back to the Koon Store Road area to perform a welfare check on a third potential victim. The woman told deputies that Wheeler arrived at her residence, pointed a firearm at her, and pulled the trigger. The attack failed because the gun ran out of ammunition, leaving the woman unharmed.
Detectives Process Evidence as Victim Remains Hospitalized
The first shooting victim remains hospitalized with her injuries as detectives continue to process evidence from multiple crime scenes.
What Charges Does Donald Wheeler Face?
What specific charges does Donald Wheeler face?
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department reports that Wheeler’s formal accusations encompass murder, first-degree burglary, two counts of attempted murder, and three counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Where was the suspect taken into custody?
Deputies stopped a vehicle matching the suspect’s description near the Koon Store Road area and detained Wheeler before transferring him to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department headquarters.
What happened during the incident involving the third woman?
Deputies conducted a welfare check on Koon Store Road where a third woman reported that Wheeler pointed a firearm at her and pulled the trigger, but the weapon was out of ammunition and she remained uninjured.
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