RCSD: Suspect in Officer-involved shooting pleads guilty
The man charged with shooting at a Richland deputy has plead guilty to the charges against him.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)— The man charged with shooting at a Richland deputy has plead guilty to the charges against him.
Michael Jayvone Dennis appeared before a judge today in General Sessions Court. He was charged with attempted murder and related weapons offenses for shooting at the deputy.
Authorities say on Nov. 2, 2020, Deputy Josiah McComb responded to reports of a domestic incident on Hileah Drive and was shot at as he approached the scene.
Deputy McComb returned fire from within his vehicle, striking Dennis in the arm. The deputy did not receive injuries.
Officials say Dennis ran to the house next door and grabbed a woman who he attempted to hold hostage. Her spouse was able to disarm Dennis and deputies were able to apprehend him.
Deputy Mccomb says it’s been a long journey for him mentally. “The process of not allowing that one isolated incident affect how you see humanity in total and how it affects your worldview . . its not easy and I think that its a process I’m still working through in all honesty. I know I handled it better than my wife as a champion but she definitely worries about me and it changes how she says goodbye everyday when I go off to work.“
Dennis was also charged with kidnapping and assault & battery first degree for his actions against the female victim. According to investigators, Dennis already had a criminal record before committing these crimes. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says Dennis is a classic example of ‘catch and release.’
“Listening to his record, his total disregard in his first home invasion that he did with two children in the house and how he treated them. Gets out on bond and he didn’t hesitate in shooting Josiah – that excuse of he grew up in a community where he didn’t like cops – yeah you might not like a cop but that doesn’t mean you automatically shoot at one when he pulls up and thats what he did,“ says Sheriff Lott.
