Man arrested in Kansas faces murder charge in Columbia, SC police say
More than a week after a shooting near the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, where one person was killed and another was injured, an arrest has been made, the Columbia Police Department said.
Demetrius Jones, 34, was taken into custody Wednesday in Junction City, Kansas, police said in a news release.
Jones, who’s wanted on multiple charges following the Oct. 16 shooting in Columbia, was detained by officers during a traffic stop in Junction City, Kansas, according to the release. That’s more than 1,100 miles from where the Columbia shooting happened, just blocks from Williams-Brice Stadium.
Information about what Jones was doing in Kansas was not available. Police said Jones faces charges for murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime when he is extradited back to Columbia.
The charges stem from the Oct. 16 shooting, that happened at about 3:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of Mitchell Street, according to the release.
Police said Jones argued with another man while on Mitchell Street, then got a gun from inside a vehicle and fired several rounds at the two victims. Information about why the men were arguing was not available.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office said 27-year-old Ernest Matthew Byrd was killed, according to the release. Byrd was taken to an area hospital where he died days after getting shot in the upper body, police said.
The other male victim received a graze wound and was not seriously injured, according to police. Further information on that victim’s condition was not available.
There was no word on how long the extradition process would take, and when Jones is expected to be returned to Columbia.
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This story was originally published October 26, 2023 at 7:52 AM with the headline "Man arrested in Kansas faces murder charge in Columbia, SC police say."
