Two arrests, one suspect on the loose in Columbia murder

Police said on Wednesday two men are in custody for a recent murder, but one suspect remains on the loose, and he could be armed and dangerous.

Derrick Copelin, 17, was arrested in New Orleans for the murder of Dontay Tolston. But Jimiah Lambert, 20, of Columbia is still on the loose. Authorities believe he is no longer in the area.

Martrell Smith, 20, was already charged on Tuesday. Smith claims he allegedly went to Tolston’s house Thursday night on Newton Drive near Providence and Vandiver because of a drug deal with Lambert and Copelin.

According to court documents, Smith says Lambert pulled a gun after the exchange, and Tolston also grabbed a weapon. Smith says he ran once the gunshots started.

Investigators arrested Smith because he was responsible for the last six calls on Tolston’s phone.