Police report no leads for early morning shooting in central Columbia

COLUMBIA — The investigation into the shooting of a 25-year-old man early Wednesday morning in central Columbia is at a standstill while officers are investigating Tuesday’s homicide, said Sgt. Chris Kelley of the Columbia Police Department.

Kelly said that the Major Crimes Unit is busy investigating the fatal shooting of Nathaniel Bentley in a southeast Columbia neighborhood, which was Columbia’s first homicide this year.

“As of right now, we’re at a dead end with this case,” Kelley said of the non-fatal shooting that occurred in the early morning hours at the intersection of Garth and Third Avenue.

No witnesses to the shooting had come forward as of Wednesday afternoon, Kelley said.

At 12:23 a.m. police responded to the reports that a man had been shot. Officers found him with a gunshot wound to the thigh, Kelley said. The man was taken to University Hospital.

Police said several people were outside and in the area where the shooting occurred, but no one had directly witnessed the shooting. However, some of the statements obtained contradicted each other and the physical evidence available, Kelley said.

The victim’s wound was serious but did not appear to be life-threatening. The man’s admission to the hospital had so far prevented officers and detectives from getting a statement.

“We still have not been able to talk to the victim,” Kelley said Wednesday afternoon.

Police have not named any suspects at this time. The details of the physical evidence of the shooting cannot be released because it could jeopardize the case, Kelley said.

Anyone with information about this incident should call 875-8477.