A South Carolina woman was tragically shot to death in the parking lot of a Bojangles restaurant on Nov. 15, an incident police believe is related to a “long-running dispute” in the area. antoinette Michelle Hammonds-Colon, 40was shot and killed outside the fast food chain on Harbison Boulevard in Columbia.
When emergency services arrived, Michelle was found in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the upper body. She was rushed to a local hospital, but succumbed to her injuries shortly after. He Columbia Police Department identified Ja’Quivian Kennerly, 23, as the main suspect in the shooting.
Kennerly, considered “armed and dangerous,” is wanted on multiple charges, including murder. According to reports from WLTX 19 NewsLaw enforcement believes the shooting was due to an ongoing conflict between two groups in the area. During the incident, numerous shots were fired, involving several people, although no additional injuries have been reported.
Melron Kelly, spokesperson for the Columbia Police Department, stated: “In gathering some information, we discovered that there was an altercation in the parking lot that led to the shooting. “The individuals involved knew each other.”
The incident temporarily closed a busy section of Harbison Boulevard while officers from Richland and Lexington counties worked to secure the scene. Police are actively investigating the case, reviewing surveillance footage from nearby cameras and interviewing eyewitnesses.
Several employees and customers who dined at Bojangles witnessed the altercation firsthand and are assisting authorities with their investigations, according to Fox 57. Michelle’s autopsy is scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, which may provide more information about the case.
Police have urged anyone with information about the shooting or Kennerly’s whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC or visit CrimeSC.com. As the investigation continues, the tragic loss of Antoinette Michelle Hammonds-Colón highlights the devastating consequences of violence and underlines the urgency of peacefully resolving long-standing disputes.