Teen wearing an ankle monitor led chase where stolen guns were involved, SC sheriff says
Two teenagers were taken into custody Wednesday after one of them led deputies on a chase and stolen guns were recovered, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
At about 5 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a car break-in at an apartment complex in the 3000 block of Lake Avenue, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. That’s where the Quail Run Apartment is, next to the intersection with Percival Road, in a part of Columbia between Interstate 77 and Forest Lake.
At the apartment complex, deputies met with the vehicle owner who reported that his car had been broken into and his gun stolen, according to the release. While deputies were processing the vehicle for evidence, they heard a gunshot and during a search they found both a 17-year-old and 18-year-old Sa’riya Green, the sheriff’s department said.
When deputies approached them, the 17-year-old ran away, according to the release.
During the brief foot chase, deputies saw the 17-year-old, who was not publicly identified because they’re a minor, throw a box in a garbage can, the sheriff’s department said. After detaining the 17-year-old, deputies returned to the garbage can where they found three guns inside of the box, and two of them were reported stolen, according to the release.
One of the stolen firearms was confirmed to be the gun stolen from the victim’s vehicle during the break-in at the Lake Avenue apartment complex, the sheriff’s department said.
No injuries were reported.
“I don’t know how many times it needs to be said,” Sheriff Leon Lott said in the release, “your vehicle is not your holster. Again, we have a juvenile breaking into cars when they should be at home getting ready for school and a gun left in a vehicle. Our community members can help take guns out of the hands of juveniles by simply being responsible gun owners.”
Both Green and the 17-year-old were on court-ordered monitoring devices and both had let the devices die, the sheriff’s department said.
The 17-year-old was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a handgun by person under 18, along with single counts of simple larceny, breaking into a motor vehicle and tampering with electronic monitoring device, according to the release.
The 17-year-old was taken to a South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice facility, the sheriff’s department said. There was no word if the 17-year-old was released to the custody of a parent/guardian or if they’re still locked up.
Green was charged with tampering with electronic monitoring device and was taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to the release. Bond was set at $10,000, and Green remains behind bars, jail records show. Green is scheduled to return to court April 25, according to Richland County judicial records.
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This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 7:59 AM with the headline "Teen wearing an ankle monitor led chase where stolen guns were involved, SC sheriff says."
