RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — The Richland County Coroner has identified the victims of a double homicide that occurred Tuesday night in Columbia as 22-year-old Dominic Goodwin and 22-year-old Xavier Hopkins.
Richland County Sheriff’s deputies found the victims in a car outside a home on Hickory Ridge Drive. A third individual was also shot and found inside a house nearby; that victim has been hospitalized and is expected to survive.
"We knew it had to be terrible, it had to be bad," says a woman who lives on Hickory Ridge Drive who did not want to be on camera.
She described the frightening moments on Tuesday night. “I heard a loud noise, and I ran to the window but I didn’t think it could be gunshots, I didn’t think that.”
She said it was a night she would never forget. “We came to the front porch, and there were so many deputy cars, blue lights, two fire trucks came, an ambulance came, and young people running around here crying, screaming, 'Oh my gosh, help, help, help, help, oh my gosh.'"
An incident report reveals that investigators found a car stopped in the grass with the victims shot inside. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the shooting may have been a drive-by, but it is unclear if the victims knew their alleged killers. As the investigation continues, residents are left feeling unsafe.
“I feel though as this neighborhood is becoming more dangerous," another neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous said.
News19 has contacted the victims' families but has not yet heard back. If you have any information about this shooting, please call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.