A quiet evening in the Brookhaven neighborhood of Columbia, South Carolina, was shattered by the sound of gunfire on April 9, 2022. Responding to reports of a shooting at approximately 6 p.m., Richland County Sheriff's deputies discovered 16-year-old Ryan Roosevelt Rowe in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. The young Black male was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Further investigation into the
circumstances surrounding the shooting revealed a robbery gone horribly wrong. It is believed that as Ryan attempted to flee his attackers, he was shot multiple times. The senseless act of violence that cut short a promising young life sent shockwaves through the community and left his family devastated. His father, Teran Rowe, spoke out about his grief and the pressing need for more community and parental engagement to steer teenagers away from such violent paths.
In connection with the murder of Ryan Rowe, law enforcement officials arrested four teenage suspects. The individuals taken into custody included three 16-year-olds and 18-year-old Shalah Hibbler. All four faced a litany of serious charges, including murder, robbery, use of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a firearm. The three minors were additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18. Following their arrests, the suspects were booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
