On a warm evening in Columbia, South Carolina, just hours before he would have turned 27, Jamell George, a 26-year-old father and business owner, was fatally shot in what authorities described as a robbery. The incident occurred on July 2, 2016, as George sat in his truck outside a residence on Pinedale Drive. Two men reportedly approached him, leading to a verbal altercation that quickly escalated.
The assailants ordered George out of his vehicle at gunpoint.
As he attempted to flee the terrifying encounter, he was shot multiple times. Emergency services transported him to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, dying from a gunshot wound to the upper body. Investigators believe that George was a random target. His cell phone was stolen during the tragic event and was never recovered.
In the wake of the shooting, the Richland County Sheriff's Department launched an investigation that led to the arrest of one suspect. On August 3, 2016, 27-year-old Keith Thomas was taken into custody and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. A tip from a witness who had seen a sketch of the suspects provided the crucial lead for Thomas's apprehension. At the time of his arrest, Thomas had no prior criminal record.
Despite the breakthrough, a second suspect involved in the death of Jamell George remains at large. Law enforcement officials believe this individual may have resided in or around the Colony Apartments off West Beltline Boulevard. A composite sketch of the second man was released to the public in the hopes of generating new leads. The family of Jamell George, devastated by their loss, has pleaded for anyone with information to come forward to bring the second individual to justice.
