13-year-old charged with hate crime
RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Sheriff Leon Lott says a 13-year-old has been charged with a hate crime ordinance after being identified during a burglary investigation.
Courtesy: Sumter County Sheriff’s Office
Police lights
On May 14, 2026, at around 5 p.m., deputies responded to a burglary in the 1000 block of Coatesdale Road.
Deputies learned from the witness that he arrived to the vacant home to check on the property for the owner when he noticed bicycles outside and saw two young male juveniles leaving the home.
RCSD says inside the home, there was extensive property damage including large holes in the walls, a kicked-in rear door, several broken windows, and graffiti spray painted using different offensive messaging in the forms of racial slurs and symbols of antisemitism.
After speaking with additional witnesses, deputies located one juvenile suspect at a nearby home, says Richland Co. Sheriff’s Dept.
The suspect’s clothing described by the original witness and paint cans were found at the teen’s home when deputies executed a search warrant of the location.
The 13-year-old juvenile was charged with burglary 3rd degree, malicious injury to real property > $2000, and the hate crime ordinance.
He was taken to SCDJJ without incident, according to the sheriff’s dept.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is still investigating this incident to identify the second suspect.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call RCSD at 803-576-3000 or submit a tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
