Two shot, one killed near Walter Todd Road

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Gunfire at a home off of Walter Todd Road claimed a local man Friday, left another injured, and prompted an ongoing Columbus County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

     Timothy Tyrone Riggins, 31, died after apparently being shot at his home, which has a Lowery Lane address on the corner of Walter Todd Road.

     Deputies were called to the property at about 11:40 a.m. Friday to a shots fired report, arrived quickly, and found Riggins dead, a news release Monday from Sheriff Jody Greene said.

     Another person was shot during the incident, taking by private vehicle to Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville. Investigators conducted parallel investigations and witness interviews at the Riggins home and at CRHS, the report said.

     Crime scene tape was placed around a blue Chevrolet SUV in the hospital parking lot before it was towed on a rollback, The News Reporter in Whiteville reported.

     Investigation on the second person who was shot has not been released because of the ongoing investigation, sheriff’s spokeswoman Michelle Tatum said Monday afternoon.

     Multiple gunshots were fired, with “several homes in the immediate vicinity of the incident” struck, the news release said. Deputies determined that no one else was struck by the gunfire.

     Their investigation included a search of the woods in the surrounding areas that included K9 officers.

     “This does not appear to be a random act of violence but an isolated incident that unfortunately resulted in the loss of a life,” Greene said.

     Help from the public is always appreciated, Greene said, reminding citizens of the importance of paying attention to what is going on can call 911 to report anything suspicious.

     Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.

     Look for more on this story in this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.