Hopkins Shooting Kills Richland County Coroner Employee, Injures Another

Deadly shooting incident hit close to home for one Richland County agency.

Hopkins, SC (WOLO)– Parents were on alert Tuesday afternoon after Hopkins Middle School was placed on lockdown following a nearby shooting where one person was found dead and another injured. Richland County deputies are still trying to piece together what went on outside a home on Clarkson Road right before shots rang out, killing a member of Richland County’s family.

“Unfortunately, one of the individuals, the decedent, is one of our employees. And so we have turned the investigation over to the Lexington County Coroner’s office. She’ll be coordinating with the Richland County Sheriff’s department on any further releases at this time,” Gary Watts said, Richland County’s coroner. 

Around 1:30 p.m. deputies responded to the shots fired call.  Law enforcement says that neither of the victims lived at the home. The sheriff’s department is still investigating the relationship between the two people.

“What we do know is that there was a verbal altercation that took place and then shots were fired. At this time, we have one that was pronounced dead on the scene. We also have one that was transported to the hospital. Condition is unknown at this time,” Curtis Wilson said, with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Officials say the individual who was taken to the hospital is another Richland County employee. That individual worked for the Refuse Control team. The incident is still under investigation, however they are not looking for anyone else in connection to this case.

“We’ll have further information out later. We still have a lot to get done,” Watts said.