Holiday Weekend Crime Hits Richland County

Richland Co., S.C. (WOLO) — Officials with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department say investigations are ongoing in two of the weekend’s three shootings.

An arrest has been made in the third shooting which occurred late Sunday afternoon on Antioch Amez Church Road in Eastover.

“There had been a longstanding feud against the neighbors,” says Lt. Curtis Wilson with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

48-year old Mark Volstromer, has been charged with the murder of 62-year old Keith Pruitt, after authorities say a long standing dispute between the two turned deadly.

According to Lt.Wilson, “The wife of the suspect was outside taking pictures. The victim stops the truck he gets out and they have some words. This disagreement led to the husband coming out of the house and firing a shot at the victim.”

This incident is just one in a string of crimes that occurred in Richland County over the holiday weekend, including three shootings.

 “We had one that happened on Bridgecreek, we had another one that happened on Hard Scrabble and then we had the one that just happened last night which took place in Eastover. and we had the armed robbery.”

Lt.Wilson says an increase in robberies is typical of the holiday season, but suggests the season’s increased alcohol consumption as a contributing factor in the shootings.

” Of course this is the time of year being the holidays that a lot more alcohol is going to be used especially around New Years and that’s when we ask people to really vigilant as to where they’re going to be going. Watch your surroundings and things that could happen.”

Investigators are still looking for information on two of this weekend’s shootings, one that occurred on Bridgecreek Road. during a Christmas party and the other that took place on Hard Scrabble Road.

The condition of the victims in those incidents is unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.