In the quiet evening of March 26, 2020, in Columbia, South Carolina, a sequence of events unfolded that tragically cut short the life of 20-year-old Dayon Devales Geiger. A male, Geiger was discovered unresponsive in the driver's seat of his vehicle with a gunshot wound. The discovery was made by Richland County Sheriff's deputies who were responding to reports of a vehicle collision and shots fired on Elders Pond Road at approximately 9:45 p.m.
Upon their arrival, deputies found two
vehicles that had been involved in a crash. Inside one of the cars sat Geiger, who had been fatally wounded. The initial investigation suggested a violent encounter that culminated in both a shooting and a car wreck, leaving a young man's life extinguished and a community searching for answers. The Richland County Coroner's Office later confirmed Geiger's identity and the cause of his death.
In the weeks that followed, the Richland County Sheriff's Department diligently pursued leads to bring those responsible for Geiger's death to justice. Their investigation led them to two teenage suspects. Less than two weeks after the incident, on April 3rd and April 6th, two 17-year-old males were taken into custody. The first suspect was arrested at his home, and the second was apprehended by the Richland County Fugitive Task Force at his residence.
Due to their status as minors, the names of the two suspects were not publicly released. Both teenagers were charged with murder, armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Following their arrests, they were transported to the juvenile wing of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The motive for the shooting was not immediately made public by the authorities.
