Minor one of two arrested after shooting at Food Lion in Five Points, police say

Two more people have been arrested following a recent shooting in the parking lot of a Food Lion grocery store in South Carolina, according to the Columbia Police Department.

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Jayden Milak Howell and a minor have been taken into custody, police said Tuesday in a news release.

Both were charged with breach of peace (aggravated in nature), according to the release. The minor, who was not publicly identified because of his age, also was charged with possession of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a person under 18, police said.

Investigators confirmed the juvenile was shot during the Sept. 5 incident at 1001 Harden Street, according to the release. That’s a strip mall in the Five Points area of Columbia.

The shooting

On Sept. 6, police reported three people were hospitalized following the shooting outside the Food Lion.

Two people were previously arrested and charged before Howell and the minor were taken into custody, police said.

Eric Velazquez, a 23-year-old Lexington resident, was charged with breach of peace (aggravated in nature) and Carmelo Kirkland, a 21-year-old Columbia resident, was charged with possession of firearm by convicted felon, according to an incident report.

Both men were in a car being driven by Kirkland, the incident report said. Velazquez said he was in possession of a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun which he fired after he claimed to have heard gunshots, according to the incident report.

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Velazquez confessed that he did not see any shooter, but he opened fire in the direction where he believed the shots were coming from, in the parking lot that was crowded with people on foot and inside vehicles, the incident report said.

Three people were hit by gunfire, along with multiple businesses and vehicles, and police said that “Velazquez’s actions were careless and caused a danger to everyone in the area,” according to the incident report.

Howell had bond set at $15,000 Tuesday, but it has yet to be posted, Richland County court records show. He’s scheduled to return to court Nov. 20, according to judicial records.

Velazquez’s $50,000 bond was posted Sept. 6, court records show.

Kirkland’s bond was set at $7,500, but has not been posted, according to court records.

Despite the multiple arrests, police are continuing to investigate the shooting.

“Additional arrests and charges are possible as investigators continue identifying individuals involved and reviewing evidence,” police said in Tuesday’s release.

Anyone with information, photos, or video is asked to call police at 803-545-3500, Crimestoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.

In the case of an emergency, always call 911.