In the early morning hours of September 15, 2024, a burst of gunfire in West Columbia, South Carolina, shattered the predawn quiet, leaving two men dead and another wounded. One of the deceased was Alvin Davonte McDaniel Jr., a 29-year-old male from Winnsboro. The shooting occurred around 3:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Center Street.
Responding to the scene, law enforcement found a chaotic situation.
Another man, 17-year-old Kashaan Damon Sims of Columbia, was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. McDaniel Jr. had sustained several gunshot wounds to his lower body and was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he later succumbed to his injuries. A third individual was also injured by gunfire and taken to an area hospital, where they were treated and subsequently released.
In the wake of the violence, the West Columbia Police Department, in conjunction with the Lexington County Coroner's Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Crime Scene Investigation Unit, launched a thorough investigation into the double homicide. Authorities have released few specific details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of Alvin Davonte McDaniel Jr. and Kashaan Damon Sims. The investigation remains active and ongoing as authorities continue to seek answers and bring those responsible to justice. Law enforcement has not publicly identified any suspects or a potential motive for the shooting.
