The suspect in Saturday's South Carolina mall shooting that left 14 injured was given a $25,000 bond, according to the Columbia Police Department.
A South Carolina judge ordered Jewayne Price, a 22-year-old black male, to be placed on house arrest if bond is made; allowing him to travel to and from work under the condition that he wears an ankle monitor, Fox News reports.
"We don't believe this was random," Columbia Police Chief William Holbrook said during a press brief. "We believe they knew each other and something led to the gunfire."
South Carolina state representative Todd Rutherford, who is also Price's attorney, said after the bond hearing that the judge granted low bail because Price allegedly acted in self-defense.
"It was unprovoked by him. He called the police, turned himself in, turned over the firearm that was used in this, and gave a statement to the Columbia Police Department," Rutherford said, according to WIS. "That is why he got a $25,000 bond."
Price has a prior criminal history and was arrested in 2018 on accessory charges, Fox News reports.
"We catch people, they serve a little bit of time, they get out and they get right back doing what they normally do and that's commit crimes," Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a recent press conference. "The criminal justice system needs to do better."
Three individuals, including Price, were detained by law enforcement following Saturday's shooting at Columbiana Centre Mall. Authorities released the other two adult males after police determined they were not involved.
According to the Columbia Police Department, evidence collected at the scene indicates that two firearms were used and at least three people displayed guns, surveillance footage shows.
Price was charged with unlawful carrying of a pistol, but more charges could be brought forward after prosecutors review evidence.
14 people were injured during Saturday's shooting. 10 of those wounded were hit by gunfire, while two were trampled in the crowd as people tried to escape, the other 2 had unspecified injuries. The police have reported no fatalities at this time. The youngest victim is 15-years-old and the oldest is 73.
At 2:00 pm on Saturday police received reports of "multiple" gunshots at the Columbiana Centre mall. Several eyewitnesses described hearing the multiple rounds being fired before the crowds inside the mall began to rush for the exits. In the rush that ensued, two victims were injured by the stampede of people.
Victims of the attack were taken to three separate medical facilities: Prisma Health Parkridge, Prisma Health Richland, and Lexington Medical Center.
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