Columbia, SC — In a major development in the fight against local gun violence, Columbia police have arrested two individuals linked to the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old high school football player. The incident, which occurred during a clash between two groups earlier this year, tragically caught the young athlete, Julian Keel, in the crossfire.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook announced the arrests of 20-year-old Tonie Wilson and a teenage boy during a recent news conference. The duo faces charges including murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature. The juvenile is additionally charged with illegal possession of a firearm, as he was under supervised release from detention for a prior motor vehicle theft at the time of the shooting.
The arrests were made in neighboring counties, with Wilson apprehended in Sumter County and the teenage suspect in Lexington County. These actions followed a tip that corroborated evidence already in the hands of the police, highlighting the collaborative effort in addressing the case.
Holbrook described this year as challenging due to numerous acts of youth gun violence that continue to plague Richland County. Keel’s death marks one of 12 homicides reported in Columbia this year, with all cases now resolved, signaling a small win in the broader battle against violent crime in the area.
In a heartfelt moment, Holbrook addressed the severity of gun violence while Keel’s mother, visibly distressed, was present in the audience. “This was a tragedy,” remarked Holbrook. He emphasized the importance of continued advocacy against the gun violence scourge that threatens the community’s safety.
The investigation revealed that Keel was struck by a bullet as he attempted to drive away from a graduation party at a local restaurant around 12:30 a.m. on June 2. At the time, he was a promising incoming senior at W.J. Keenan High School and was looking forward to his final season on the football team.
According to Holbrook, the altercation that escalated to gunfire involved two factions in the restaurant’s parking lot, with Keel tragically caught as an innocent bystander. In the aftermath, police recovered over 50 bullet casings from the scene and seized multiple firearms, including a 300 Blackout assault-style rifle which is believed to have fired the fatal shot.
The seizing of this rifle, reportedly purchased on the dark web, underscores the complex challenges law enforcement faces with the illegal arms trade. The case saw contributions from several law enforcement agencies, including sheriff’s offices from Calhoun, Lexington, and Sumter Counties, as well as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Currently, Wilson is detained at Richland County jail. Meanwhile, details about the teenage suspect remain confidential due to his juvenile status and the legal protections it entails.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent issues surrounding youth and gun violence. As Columbia grapples with these challenges, the actions taken by local police and the community’s response to solving and preventing such tragedies will remain under close scrutiny.