21-year-old man shot outside Columbia restaurant

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a 21-year-old man likely knew the person who shot him to death in the parking lot of an Olive Garden restaurant in Columbia.

Lexington County Coroner Harry Harman says Thomas Hoefer was shot in the chest at around 9 p.m. Thursday. The bullet entered Hoefer’s lung, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Columbia police say Hoefer had been inside the restaurant eating with his family when he went outside to talk to someone and was shot.

Authorities are still investigating the shooting. No arrests have been made, but Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott says the shooting was not random.