Columbia homicide victim’s mother speaks out

Columbia Police are investigating Dominick Roland’s death as a homicide after officers discovered him inside a crashed car with a gunshot wound on Rangeline Street.

The victim’s mother, Michelle Roland, said Dominick Roland was with his friends when he was shot. His friends brought him home and Roland’s twin brother tried to take him to the hospital.

In route to the hospital, Dominick Roland’s brother crashed the car as he saw his brother become unresponsive.

Michelle Roland said her 25-year-old son valued his friendships.

“If he thought of you as a friend, you was family,” she said.

She said Dominick Roland was very loyal.

“Unfortunately that has been the story of my son’s life because he is loyal to a fault,” she said. “He has always been with the wrong people at the wrong time.”

His mother said the crash totaled the vehicle and she is lucky Dominick Roland’s twin brother survived.

“I know that was nothing but the lord,” she said. “He was like I’m not going to take both of your babies today.”

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