Gang Violence Leads to Death of an Associate Instead of a Rival
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announces the arrest of a man who murdered another man on March 11, 2021.
The incident began at Capitol City Cycles on Two Notch Road in Columbia. Several men can be seen on surveillance video gathered outside of the business, including Charles Lilly, Kristopher Wheat and James Hill.
Another man in the video is the victim of the assault that started the brawl, Corey Booth. He was pushed to the ground and began firing his weapon as the other men jumped on top of him. The man on top of the pile, Charles Lilly, was struck in the head several times with cane. James Hill (DOB: 12/24/1962) can be seen wielding that cane and was charged with his murder and Assault by Mob in the First Degree. It is believed that Hill and Lilly are affiliated with the same gang.
During the struggle, Booth fired his gun, striking someone affiliated with his own gang, Nathan Hatch, in the lower body and two other men from the opposing gang in the upper body. Those men were Lilly and Raymond Reese. Booth, who fired the weapon, was stabbed during the altercation and has been released from the hospital. Reese and Hatch are still in the hospital today.
“Both sides of this rivalry injured someone who was on their own side. This senseless violence caused James Hill to murder his friend, simply because he struck the wrong man and beat him to death.” Sheriff Lott said. “These gang members were driven by violence and did not care who was hurt. That business is very close to the interstate and we are lucky that bullets did not hit anyone else.”
Kristopher Wheat (DOB: 07/18/1984) was involved in the assault of Booth, who was beaten and stabbed. Wheat was charged with Obstruction of Justice, Assault by Mob and Unlawful Possession of a Pistol.
Hill is currently detained at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and Wheat has been released on bond.