Man shot in north Columbia home invasion robbery
UPDATE, 4:00 p.m.: Stephanie, a Mint Julep resident, said she thought she had seen a suspicious car idling in front of the victims’ home on Monday.
“It was just strange,” she said. “We pretty much know every car in and out of there and that car I’d never seen before.”
She said she reported it to police but wasn’t sure if it was related to Tuesday night’s home invasion. For her, it highlighted the importance of a Neighborhood Watch program for the area.
“I think just being aware of who’s around you at all time, anything suspicious,” she said. “We all know who drives what, so if you see anything weird, it should be discussed or reported.”
She also recommended keeping valuables out of sight that may tempt potential thieves.
Here is a link to the Neighborhood Watch website if you are interested in starting one or going to a training.
The next public training session is in February, but there are private trainings available.
ORIGINAL STORY: A man is expected to recover after being shot in north Columbia Tuesday night.
According to police, they were called to the 3900 block of Mint Julep Drive in reference to a gunshot wound. When officers got on scene, the discovered it was a home invasion.
Police told us the victim was getting out of his car in the home’s garage when two suspects approached him and barged inside the house.
“The victim pulls into the garage and before he gets the garage door down, he’s got two people in the garage with him,” Columbia police Lt. Matt Stephens said.
A woman and two juveniles were already home.
The suspects showed at least one firearm and demanded money before firing multiple shots inside the home, hitting the victim at least twice according to police. Officers found shell casings and blood at the scene.
“You’ve got a family who lives there and then someone comes in and shoots dad in front of the kids,” Stephens said.
The suspects stole money and property before leaving the home.
A lieutenant on scene said he believed the man had non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was injured in the robbery.
There were about six officers on scene as well as an investigator. Stephens told ABC 17 News the department had 13 officers on the street for the whole city at the time.
