Columbia, SC – In the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 12, tragedy struck in Columbia, South Carolina. Steve W. Hughes, a 46-year-old tow truck driver from Lexington, was found slumped over inside his tow truck, which was riddled with bullet holes on the roadside. Despite the efforts of first responders, Hughes succumbed to a single gunshot wound at the hospital. Authorities from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department suspect that the motive behind the fatal shooting was an attempt to prevent Hughes from repossessing a vehicle.
Raheem De’Angelo Jackson, 20, was later booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on charges of murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. He is believed to be connected to the shooting, according to the sheriff’s department.
Authorities didn’t stop there in their pursuit of justice. Five days after Raheem’s arrest, on Monday, June 17, the sheriff’s Special Response Team and Fugitive Task Force assembled to apprehend Raheem’s younger sister, Essence Taniyah Jackson, 19. However, their search for her turned up empty as she was not present at her residence. Investigators eventually located her at another location, which has not been disclosed. Essence was charged with murder and taken to the Richland County Detention Center, where her brother is also being held. The sheriff’s department considers her a “co-conspirator” who played a role in the events leading up to the fatal shooting.
As the investigation unfolds, the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office for Richland County has been contacted for information regarding the court cases of Raheem and Essence. At this point, it is unclear if Raheem has entered a plea or has legal representation for his case. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 20. No records have been found for Essence based on their search.
The case remains under investigation by the sheriff’s department as they work to uncover more information surrounding the tragic incident.