‘Avoid the area,’ Richland County sheriff says following deadly shooting

There was a large law enforcement presence in a part of Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday morning, as the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatal shooting.

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Qwa’Maurie A. Deaver, an 18-year Columbia resident, is the person who died, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said.

At about 7:15 a.m., the sheriff’s department asked people to avoid the area of Summit Ridge Drive where the overnight shooting occurred. That part of Columbia near Lake Carolina is often called the Summit.

Information about an exact location of the shooting was not available. The sheriff’s department told The State that the shooting was reported around midnight Thursday morning.

The sheriff’s department said it is trying to determine if anyone else was injured in the shooting.

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There was no word about the number of people involved in the shooting.

No arrests have been reported by the sheriff’s department, which is investigating the shooting, and is the reason for the significant law enforcement presence. The coroner’s office is also assisting in the investigation.

“We ask the community to avoid the area while deputies conduct their investigation,” the sheriff’s department said. “Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”

This is a developing story, check back for updates.