Ciarra Howcott, 31, of Hopkins, South Carolina, was found dead in a Columbia neighborhood on Monday, April 13, 2026. The Richland County Coroner determined she died of a gunshot wound to her upper body and the case was classified as a homicide.

Within days, Columbia police arrested 19-year-old Lee’Sean Emmanuel Davis and charged him with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; resisting arrest and failure to stop were also charged at the time of arrest. Authorities have not released a motive or said whether Howcott and Davis knew each other prior to the shooting. The investigation remains active and officers are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Did anyone in the Columbia area see or hear anything around Howell Court on April 13 that could help investigators?