On the evening of December 20, 2025, a violent confrontation in Columbia, South Carolina, claimed the life of 30-year-old Brian Gary Barrett. The fatal incident occurred late that Saturday night in the 800 block of Polo Road, located between Interstate 20 and Sesquicentennial State Park. Authorities were dispatched to the scene around 11:00 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department discovered Barrett suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. Despite being transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
Investigators determined that the shooting stemmed from a verbal dispute between Barrett and another man that rapidly escalated into physical violence. During the altercation, the assailant produced a firearm and shot Barrett several times before fleeing the area. The Richland County Coroner officially identified the victim as a Columbia resident. The investigation quickly identified a suspect, leading law enforcement to track the accused individual to a location approximately 60 miles away.
The following day, authorities apprehended 44-year-old Charles McCants in Hartsville, South Carolina. He was taken into custody by the Hartsville Police Department and subsequently transported back to Richland County to face charges. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department charged McCants with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center to await legal proceedings.
