A July 5, 2018 shooting at an apartment complex in the 900 block of Glenn Street in West Columbia left three people wounded and ultimately resulted in two deaths. Samir Bernard Atkins, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound to the upper body. Elzie Mack Jr., 41, of Gaston, also suffered a serious gunshot wound to the upper body and was transported to a local hospital; he succumbed to his injuries three days later, on July 8, 2018.

The West Columbia Police Department identified 25-year-old Damien Lavar Ritter as a suspect in the double homicide and released a physical description: Black male, about 5 feet 4 inches and 160 pounds. Investigators believed Ritter may have been driving a reddish 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe with South Carolina plates and warned he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of Damien Lavar Ritter is asked to come forward.