COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland County deputies have arrested a suspect wanted in connection with last month's shootout at a community pool in northeast Richland County
Deputies announced Monday that Joshua House, 22, is now in custody. They said he turned himself in at Richland County headquarters around 8 a.m. Monday after getting pressure from the community and law enforcement. He's now charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and aggravated breach of peace. At a news conference last Friday, Sheriff Leon Lott called House "very dangerous" and that he was a high priority for deputies to find.
Back on May 28, gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. at the Villages at Lakeshore community's pool on Freshwater Drive, which is off Longtown Road. During the incident, deputies say over 80 rounds were fired in roughly 22 seconds. A surveillance video captured some of what happened, including what Lott said is video of House firing an assault rifle. Other people firing weapons were using guns that had been modified to let them fire like a fully automatic weapon.
One person was shot in the arm during the shooting but recovered. Six other suspects are already in custody facing a variety of charges, but Lott said more arrests are expected.
The sheriff said he believes the shooting erupted out of an ongoing dispute between three groups that he's labeled Team A, Team B, and Team C. Lott said Team A has been involved in multiple shootings in the Midlands, and the guns that they've used have been using in several crimes.
Lott said part of the ongoing tension goes back to a fatal shooting last year at the Villages at Lakeshore, while even something as small as a chain being pulled off someone's neck at school could have played a role.
The sheriff department's Community Action Team will be meeting with community leaders on June 20 to find ways to organize concerned homeowners at the Villages in an effort to combat crime. Lottsaid the neighborhood pool is closed down for now, and temporary sheriff's department cameras are in the area until permanent community cameras can be installed.