In the late hours of a Sunday evening in Columbia, South Carolina, the life of a young woman was tragically cut short. Ciauta 'CeCe' Dunbar, a 21-year-old Black female, was fatally shot on November 24, 2024, behind Club Space on Decker Boulevard. Deputies from the Richland County Sheriff's Department were already on a security detail nearby when the sound of gunfire pierced the night around 11:50 p.m.
They rushed to the scene to find a chaotic and heartbreaking situation.
Upon their arrival, the deputies discovered two women with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. One woman was conscious and was quickly transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other, Ciauta Dunbar, was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Investigations into the shooting revealed that it stemmed from an altercation involving three other individuals. Tragically, Ciauta was not a part of the initial dispute. It is believed that she was attempting to intervene and de-escalate the situation when she was struck by the gunfire that ended her life.
The day after the fatal shooting, on November 25, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a residence, which led to the swift arrest of a suspect. Joshua Cain, also 21 years old, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting. He was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Cain was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. During his initial court appearance, the decision regarding his bond was deferred to a later date.
Ciauta, affectionately known as 'CeCe,' was born on April 3, 2003, in Augusta, Georgia. She was an employee at Amazon and was remembered by her loved ones as a caring individual. Her untimely death left her family and the community to grapple with the senseless loss of a young life.
