COLUMBIA, SC - Authorities with the Richland County Sheriff's Department (RCSD) announced that a 13-year-old has been charged with shooting death of a K9 Deputy and the theft of a vehicle.
According to ABC Columbia, Sheriff Leon Lott said that K9 Bumi and his handler, Specialist Allen Ware were chasing two suspects on foot around 2:30 a.m. Monday morning, December 23rd, near Alida Street when one of the teens, a 13-year-old, opened fire, shooting K9 Bumi at least three times.
K9 Bumi was pronounced dead at the scene. Lott said that K9 Bumi was wearing a vest, but was hit underneath it in the chest. He said, "We took Bumi to the vet anyway to see what we could do."
In a statement, Lott said, "This is the third dog we've had killed this year. This is the second dog we've had shot. The first one we had shot had to medically retire from being shot. Teenagers. Young people, who just do not care whatsoever." The sheriff's department said that three suspects had reportedly stolen a vehicle near the 7400 block of Parlane Road around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, December 22nd. A police pursuit shortly followed.
During the chase, deputies deployed stop sticks and the vehicle crashed at the intersection of Alida Street and Wilkes Road. During the pursuit, deputies were able to stop the car in the Greenview community after they deployed the stop sticks. Lott said, "Three weeks in a row that I've stood at this podium and talked about young people and guns and stolen cars, shooting at deputies, and now this morning killing one of our police dogs."
Deputies said the 13-year-old shooter and a second teenager ran from the car, with a third suspect, 16-years-old, being detained at the scene. The 16-year-old has been charged with obstruction of justice and misprision. The sheriff's department said, "As the investigation develops, additional charges may be forthcoming.
Speaking directly to young people at large, Lott said, "If you've got friends that care about you, they need to bring you in. But, if you don't come in that's fine. We're gonna find you. I guarantee as I'm standing here right now, you're gonna be in jail. And if I had to bet money on it you're gonna be here before Christmas gets here too."
Lott went on to address parents in the community, saying, "I hope it's hitting some parents where it needs to hit them because they need to step up and be parents. If not, I'll be talking about your child that's been killed or your child is going to jail because they're out here at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning with guns and stolen cars." Lott said, "This is going to stop. At some point, this is going to stop. They are killing each other, trying to kill us. It's going to stop."
K9 Bumi was just four-years-old and had been partner with Specialist Ware for two years. Ware had been with the department for more than five years. Before serving with RCSD, the pair served for the Cayce Police Department. According to the sheriff's department, none of their deputies fired their weapons and deputies did not use any other methods of control like a taser or chemical agent.
The 13-year-old has been charged with attempted murder, unlawful killing of a police dog, malicious injury to personal property over 10K, breach of peace high and aggravated nature, possession of a weapon under 18, unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
The 16-year-old arrested at the scene has a criminal history and was on an ankle monitor. The monitor had not been charged since December 4th. Before the pursuit began, the teen had a pickup order for the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Lott said the same 16-year-old was in the custody of the DJJ for choking a police officer.
If you have any information on the third teenager at large, you are encouraged to call the Richland County Sheriff's Department at 803-576-3000.
According to ABC Columbia, Sheriff Leon Lott said that K9 Bumi and his handler, Specialist Allen Ware were chasing two suspects on foot around 2:30 a.m. Monday morning, December 23rd, near Alida Street when one of the teens, a 13-year-old, opened fire, shooting K9 Bumi at least three times.
K9 Bumi was pronounced dead at the scene. Lott said that K9 Bumi was wearing a vest, but was hit underneath it in the chest. He said, "We took Bumi to the vet anyway to see what we could do."
In a statement, Lott said, "This is the third dog we've had killed this year. This is the second dog we've had shot. The first one we had shot had to medically retire from being shot. Teenagers. Young people, who just do not care whatsoever." The sheriff's department said that three suspects had reportedly stolen a vehicle near the 7400 block of Parlane Road around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, December 22nd. A police pursuit shortly followed.
During the chase, deputies deployed stop sticks and the vehicle crashed at the intersection of Alida Street and Wilkes Road. During the pursuit, deputies were able to stop the car in the Greenview community after they deployed the stop sticks. Lott said, "Three weeks in a row that I've stood at this podium and talked about young people and guns and stolen cars, shooting at deputies, and now this morning killing one of our police dogs."
Deputies said the 13-year-old shooter and a second teenager ran from the car, with a third suspect, 16-years-old, being detained at the scene. The 16-year-old has been charged with obstruction of justice and misprision. The sheriff's department said, "As the investigation develops, additional charges may be forthcoming.
Speaking directly to young people at large, Lott said, "If you've got friends that care about you, they need to bring you in. But, if you don't come in that's fine. We're gonna find you. I guarantee as I'm standing here right now, you're gonna be in jail. And if I had to bet money on it you're gonna be here before Christmas gets here too."
Lott went on to address parents in the community, saying, "I hope it's hitting some parents where it needs to hit them because they need to step up and be parents. If not, I'll be talking about your child that's been killed or your child is going to jail because they're out here at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning with guns and stolen cars." Lott said, "This is going to stop. At some point, this is going to stop. They are killing each other, trying to kill us. It's going to stop."
K9 Bumi was just four-years-old and had been partner with Specialist Ware for two years. Ware had been with the department for more than five years. Before serving with RCSD, the pair served for the Cayce Police Department. According to the sheriff's department, none of their deputies fired their weapons and deputies did not use any other methods of control like a taser or chemical agent.
The 13-year-old has been charged with attempted murder, unlawful killing of a police dog, malicious injury to personal property over 10K, breach of peace high and aggravated nature, possession of a weapon under 18, unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
The 16-year-old arrested at the scene has a criminal history and was on an ankle monitor. The monitor had not been charged since December 4th. Before the pursuit began, the teen had a pickup order for the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Lott said the same 16-year-old was in the custody of the DJJ for choking a police officer.
If you have any information on the third teenager at large, you are encouraged to call the Richland County Sheriff's Department at 803-576-3000.
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments