Lawmakers discuss bond court system after Meadowlake Park Shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)—Eleven people were hurt in a shooting at Meadowlake Park on Beckman Road over the weekend. According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, students from multiple high schools in the Midlands gathered for a flash party at the park. Two suspects were arrested and investigators also say they are looking for multiple shooters.

Out of the eleven people injured at Meadowlake Park nine were shot, according to the sheriff’s department. Officers arrested two suspects who were pulled over trying to flee the scene, 19-year-old Miquise Fulwiley and 18-year-old Ty Quan Kelly. Both individuals are charged with unlawful carry and are now out on bond. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says Kelly was already out on two other bonds at the time of arrest.

“They’ve already demonstrated they don’t care about human life and our bond courts system is failing us,“ says Sheriff Lot.

This particular case highlights another issue, says State Representative Seth Rose.

“It is concerning to me that we are talking about young men that were out on bond for a misdemeanor — unlawful carry of a pistol – and i just voted against a bill that would make that not a crime in South Carolina, by which someone does not need a permit from sled to carry openly and it would reduce the age to 18 for someone to be able to do that. Why didn’t we have the support of law enforcement? I was disappointed we didn’t hear from law enforcement,” says Representative Rose.

Again the suspects are charged with unlawful carry and it’s not clear if they were involved in the shooting. State Representative Todd Rutherford says more communication from law enforcement could have helped with the judges bond decision.

“Law enforcement was not there to tell the judge the full scenario they didn’t tell the judge this was regarding a mass shooting, they didn’t tell the judge that they wanted this individual kept in custody, and I believe by the end of the day you will see  a motion filed by the richland county solicitor’s office to put this gentleman back in jail,” says Representative Rutherford.

ABC Columbia reached out to the sheriff’s department to see if a motion has been filed to get the bonds revoked and to see if they spoke with the judge about the details of the case before the bond hearing.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department response:

“I do not have details on what will happen in future hearings but generally at bond hearings, the judge is presented with the facts of the case. They normally review the written warrant and offender information during that time, not in a separate meeting with deputies.”

Right now in the legislative session, Representative Rutherford says they are looking at ways to strengthen the bond court system and put it into law.