In a surprising turn of events, the three men charged in connection with a mass shooting at an after-prom party in Columbia, South Carolina, have had their charges dismissed. Sincere Boatwright, Mayar Kual, and Christopher Pearson were initially charged with 11 counts of attempted murder after 11 people were injured in the chaotic shooting on April 29, 2023.
The shooting, which took place at Meadowlake Park, injured nine people—most of them high school students—though thankfully, no one was killed. While the charges were dropped at preliminary hearings in October, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department made it clear that the case isn’t over yet. The men will still face a grand jury in January, where prosecutors will decide if there’s enough evidence to pursue further charges.
Pearson, who had video evidence proving he was home at the time of the shooting, was one of the men whose charges were dismissed. His attorney argued that Pearson was wrongly accused based on a social media post made after the incident. The other two men, Boatwright and Kual, also had their charges dropped due to lack of evidence.
The case has caught public attention, with the sheriff’s department now working with the solicitor’s office to take the matter before a grand jury. It’s a developing story, and we’ll keep you updated as it unfolds.
Stay tuned for updates as the investigation continues, and let’s hope justice is served soon.
