Teen Accused of Murder Gets Release | Columbia News

A 14-year-old boy accused of murder in a 2025 park shooting — where the victim, a 21-year-old trying to sell marijuana, was fatally shot — has been granted pretrial release by a South Carolina judge. Prosecutors plan to push for an adult trial, carrying a mandatory 30-year minimum sentence, while the defense argues the case hinges on the now-deceased co-defendant, Jalen Thames, who died in jail after being jailed for a year and whose testimony they claim was unreliable. Surveillance footage links the teen to the crime, but his father emotionally begged for detention, as prosecutors and the victim’s family insist he remains a public danger. The next critical step: hearings to decide whether the boy will be tried as an adult — with the defense preparing to fiercely oppose the transfer. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article317212909.html#storylink=mainstage_card More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/24e3cc39793c8ea3 Report issues to [email protected].