In the early morning hours of August 13, 2020, the life of 45-year-old Tivo Richard Lee, a Black male from Columbia, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. Around 1:00 a.m., officers from the Columbia Police Department responded to reports of a shooting on the 1300 block of Bonner Avenue. Upon their arrival, they discovered Lee unresponsive in the roadway, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound to his upper body.
An officer rendered aid until emergency medical services arrived and transported him to a local hospital. Despite the efforts to save him, Lee succumbed to his injuries shortly after. The Richland County Coroner's Office later confirmed that the cause of death was the gunshot wound.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led authorities to a person of interest. A woman was detained for questioning in the immediate aftermath of the incident. This individual was later identified as 23-year-old Michaelynn Lewis. Following their investigation, which included the collection of a firearm and other ballistic evidence from the residence, the Columbia Police Department, in consultation with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office, proceeded to press charges against her.
Michaelynn Lewis was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. She was booked at the Richland County Detention Center. While an arrest has been made, law enforcement officials have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting or detailed the nature of the relationship, if any, between Lee and Lewis. The investigation is considered ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the events that led to Tivo Lee's untimely death.
