Glass windows broken in drive-by shootings

Two large windows at a car dealership in central Columbia were shot out Friday afternoon, and employees who were inside the building at the time were left cold but unhurt.

Around 1:10 p.m., two shots were fired into the glass windows at the Albert Buick-Honda-GMC car dealership at 1717 N. Providence Road, shattering the plate glass. “We heard two bangs and glass started falling,” said Ron Braselton, a sales consultant at the dealership.

Around the same time, a shot was fired at American General Financial Services, just around the corner at 1900 N. Providence, cracking one window. Employees said they heard the shots but didn’t see anything. No one was injured at either location.

Three shots were also fired into the windshield of a vehicle parked in the strip mall lot where American General is located.

Capt. Stephen Monticelli, of the Columbia Police Department, said the damage was not consistent with what a firearm would cause, but rather that of a pellet or BB gun. Police did not find any pellets or BBs, he said.

“We are hoping someone might have been in the area and seen what happened,” Monticelli said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call CrimeStoppers at 875-8477.