Fight over stolen lottery ticket ends with one person dead, SC sheriff says
One person was killed Wednesday night in South Carolina and another is in jail following a shooting, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Paul Williams, 70, was charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent offense and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, the sheriff’s department said Thursday in a news release.
At about 8 p.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to the 800 block of Congaree Church Road, where there was a report of a dispute over a stolen lottery ticket, according to the release. That’s in the Gadsden area of Richland County, between Bluff Road and U.S. 378.
At the home, deputies heard a gunshot then saw Williams leaving the backyard with a gun in his hand, the sheriff’s department said.
While Williams was detained, deputies found the shooting victim in the backyard, according to the release. The victim, who was shot in the upper body, was taken to an area hospital, where he later died, the sheriff’s department said.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford identified the deceased as Matthew A. Flemming, 67, of Columbia.
No other injuries were reported.
Information about who was accused of stealing the lottery ticket was not available. There was no word if the ticket was a winner, and if so, the amount of the jackpot.
Williams was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to the release. No bond has been set and Williams remains behind bars, jail records show.
Following a bond hearing, Williams is scheduled to return to court June 27, according to Richland County judicial records.
This is not the first time Williams has been charged with a violent crime.
In January 2020, Williams was arrested on two weapons crimes when he was charged with use of firearm while under influence of alcohol or drugs as well as possession of firearm or ammunition by person convicted of violent felony, court records show. He pleaded guilty to the former charge while the latter was dismissed, according to court records.
Prior to that in 2015, Williams pleaded guilty to an unlawful carrying of pistol charge, court records show.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 10:49 AM with the headline "Fight over stolen lottery ticket ends with one person dead, SC sheriff says."
