RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford has identified the victim and suspect in a fatal domestic incident that took place Sunday on Mallet Hill Road in Columbia.
Wynter N. Straw, 25, of Columbia, died after being shot outside of an apartment located in the 700 block of Mallet Hill Road. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Renardo S. Johnson, of Pelion, in in the incident and hours-long standoff just outside of northeast Columbia died after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the upper body.
Officers with the Richland County Sheriff's Department said they were called to a reported shooting at an apartment complex in the 700 block of Mallet Hill Road around 6 p.m. Sunday.
Arriving deputies found a dead woman with a gunshot wound lying outside an apartment building and soon learned that a man, who they believed was armed, had barricaded himself inside an apartment there.
A law enforcement response involving multiple units from the sheriff's department followed with negotiator teams remaining in contact with the man for nearly three hours with hopes of resolving the issue peacefully.
Around 9 p.m., authorities said the suspect stopped speaking with them and, moments later, they heard what they suspected was gunfire from inside the apartment. They found the suspect with a gunshot wound to the upper body.
He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Authorities believe he and the victim were in a romantic relationship but haven't provided additional details regarding what led up to the incident.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department and the Richland County Coroner's Office are continuing the investigation.
Sheriff Leon Lott, who was at the scene during the tense standoff, said that the shooting was a "sad example of how violent and deadly a domestic situation can be."
"This will impact two families, many friends, and a community deeply," the sheriff said.
Authorities said that their response was initially heightened even further because they had been told a child was still inside with the suspect. However, this later proved to be false.
Neither the suspect nor the victim has been publicly identified at this time.