Suspect arrested in South Carolina mall shooting granted bond

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina police on Sunday arrested a man suspected in the shooting at a Columbia mall that left 14 people injured.

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The Columbia Police Department confirmed that shots were fired at Columbiana Centre, WIS-TV reported. Columbia Police Deputy Chief Melron Kelly also confirmed reports of a shooting to WLTX-TV.

Update 5:02 p.m. EDT April 17: The man accused of opening fire during a mass shooting at the Columbiana Centre mall in Columbia has posted bail after a hearing Sunday afternoon, WLTX-TV reported.

A South Carolina judge announced that Jewayne M. Price, 22, would be granted a surety bond of $25,000 and be required to wear an ankle monitor, the television station reported. He must also have no contact with anyone involved in the incident and must stay away from the shopping mall, according to WLTX.

Update 6:55 a.m. EDT April 17: Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said Jewayne M. Price, 22, who was one of three people initially detained by authorities as a person of interest, was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, WLTX-TV reported.

Two other people detained by officers have been released, according to the television station.

Holbrook also said the number of people injured in the shooting at Columbiana Centre has been raised from 12 to 14. Nine of the victims suffered gunshot wounds and five others were hurt while attempting to leave the mall, according to the television station. Those people suffered broken bones, cuts and a head injury.

Only one victim -- a 73-year-old woman -- remains hospitalized, WLTX reported. The other victims have been released.

Update 5:10 p.m. EDT April 16: Columbia police Chief Skip Holbrook said that 10 victims suffered gunshot wounds and that overall, 12 people were injured. Eight victims were taken to area hospitals, Holbrook said during a late-afternoon news conference, with two people in critical but stable condition. Six victims are in stable condition.

Holbrook added that two other people were injured when people rushed to exit the mall. There were no fatalities.

The sheriff added that the range of the victims’ ages was between 15 and 73.

Holbrook said three people have been detained for questioning. There have been no arrests.

The sheriff said the shooting came in the area of a Gap store inside the mall, adding that it was not a random shooting.

Update 4:01 p.m. EDT April 16: Columbia Police Department Deputy Chief Melron Kelly said multiple people have been shot at the Columbiana Centre, but there are no fatalities reported, according to The State newspaper of Columbia. Eight people were taken from the mall for medical treatment, but it is unclear how many of those people were shot. Some might have been trampled after shots were fired, Kelly said.

No arrests have been made, and officers are “going store to store and closet to closet searching for someone with a weapon,” Kelly said.

Original report: The extent of the injuries is unknown at this police said. Officers have been evacuating the mall.

Richland County deputies are on the scene assisting, a spokesperson for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department told The State newspaper of Columbia.

The Columbia Police Department reported the shooting at about 2:30 p.m. EDT, according to the newspaper.

The mall parking lot was closed as dozens of emergency vehicles converged at the site, and exit ramps from Interstate 26 were closed, The State reported. At least one ambulance was seen leaving the mall shortly after 3 p.m. EDT, according to the newspaper.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that a reunification site for residents with loved ones at the mall was established at the Fairfield Inn in neighboring Lexington County.

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