Jewayne M Price, one of the suspected Columbia Centre mall shooters, was released on a $25,000 bond on Sunday.
Jewayne M Price, 22, was arrested shortly after the shooting at Columbia Centre mall that injured 14 people and was promptly released on a $25,000 bond the following day. He, along with two others were detained by law enforcement as a person of interest following the mass shooting. The other two individuals were released. The police are still searching for two others who were seen with guns at the time of the shooting.
Price will be forced to wear an ankle monitor while awaiting charges, but in the meantime, he will be allowed to travel to and from work.
Columbia Police booked Price on suspicion of unlawful possession of a pistol after he was questioned.
According to coverage from NBC affiliate WIS, counsel for the defense J. Todd Rutherford said outside the detention center in Columbia on Sunday that his client opened fire in self-defense after two people connected to Facebook threats against him started shooting first.
This isn’t the first time that Price has been involved in a shooting. In 2018, Price was charged as an accessory in connection with the death of Amon Rice.
Price was one of 16 people charged in connection with Rice’s death. Price was charged with accessory before the fact.
Sheriff Leon Lott has spoken publicly about his concerns with what he calls a “catch and release” system.
“We catch people, they serve a little bit of time, they get out and they get right back doing what they normally do and that’s commit crimes,” he said at a recent press conference.
“The criminal justice system needs to do better.”
Saturday’s victims ranged in age from 15 to 73. There were no fatalities reported which is amazing.
“We don’t believe this was random,” Holbrook said. “We believe they knew each other and something led to the gunfire.”
“Today’s isolated, senseless act of violence is extremely upsetting and our thoughts are with everyone impacted,” Columbiana Centre said in a statement. “We are grateful for the quick response and continued support of our security team and our partners in law enforcement.”
Why are the courts being lenient with this particularly violent individual? He’s suspected of being involved in a mass shooting that injured 14 people and he’s out on bond the next day? Is there a problem in South Carolina that needs to be addressed when it comes to violent crimes?
