Irmo Police responded to a shooting incident around 1:30 am on the morning of Sunday, July 10 at the 100 block of Shawn Bay Road in the New Friarsgate Subdivision.
When officers arrived at the scene they found one person with a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim did not survive after life-saving measures were applied. The victim was identified by the Richland County Coroner’s Office as Ryan T. Shull, 21, of West Columbia.
According to Major John Hendricks of the Irmo Police Department, Shull broke into the home and accosted the homeowner while they were sleeping. The homeowner defended himself with a firearm and the result was Shull’s death.
“They all knew each other,” said Hendricks.
Irmo Police Chief Bobby Dale stated the shooting was ‘domestic related’ and that there was no immediate threat to the public. At this time no arrests have been made as investigators have deferred to the Castle Doctrine which is South Carolina’s version of the ‘stand your ground law.
Irmo Police is working closely with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Richland County Coroner’s Office and will turn all findings over to the Solicitor’s Office. The Solicitor’s office will ultimately determine if and when any charges should be filed.
A statement from Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said, “We will continue working with the Irmo Police Department and SLED to fully investigate this shooting.”
