Two charged in Columbia shooting death at student apartment complex
Two people have been arrested in connection with a shooting that left a person dead at an apartment complex that is popular with college students near Columbia’s Bluff Road.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said in a Saturday release that Tyron Shelley, 19, and Ta’John Goodwin, 20, had been arrested and charged with murder in the case. Both are being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
JoKayne Carter, a 19-year-old Columbia resident, was identified as the victim, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said Sunday.
Deputies responded at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 22 to The Roost apartment complex at 1051 Southern Drive, just off Bluff Road after getting a report of a shooting. When deputies got there, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the upper body, who was lying in the road, the sheriff’s department said. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The suspects had fled the scene before deputies arrived.
Saturday’s release said deputies were able to identify a gold Chevrolet Tahoe as the suspect vehicle, and later found that vehicle and Shelley at Shelley’s home in the Earlewood neighborhood. Meanwhile, Goodwin also was identified as a suspect in the case, deputies said, and he turned himself in to authorities at sheriff’s department headquarters on Saturday.
Investigators are still working to determine what led to the shooting, the sheriff’s department said.
The Roost markets itself to students. Promotional material on its internet site says, “Nestled near USC, Allen University, and Benedict College, The Roost offers the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, community, and security for students seeking a home away from home. With spacious floor plans, modern amenities, and a vibrant environment, The Roost is where student living truly takes flight.”
This story was originally published August 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Two charged in Columbia shooting death at student apartment complex."
