In the early morning hours of February 23, 2026, a grim discovery was made along Interstate 20 East in Columbia, South Carolina. First responders were called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash near the Clemson Road exit, where they found a truck fully engulfed in flames. Inside the vehicle was the body of 32-year-old James W. Smith III of Bishopville.
The Richland County Coroner's Office later ruled his death a homicide, and authorities indicated that evidence suggested he had been shot.
The investigation into the death of James W. Smith III, a male, quickly progressed. The Richland County Sheriff's Department described the killing as a "targeted" act and assured the public that it was an isolated incident, posing no broader threat. In the days following the discovery, law enforcement officials worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting and the subsequent fire that consumed the vehicle.
Within a few days, authorities announced a significant breakthrough in the case with the arrest of three individuals. Cedric Hollomon, Dandre Burris, and a third individual named Gequan were taken into custody in connection with the death of James W. Smith III. The Richland County Sheriff's Department charged the three suspects with murder, alleging their involvement in the targeted killing that left a community searching for answers. The investigation continues as the case against the three men moves through the legal system.
