Judge Considers Immunity Claim in 2022 Columbiana Mall Shootout Case
In a recent development, Lexington County judge Walton McLeod is deliberating on the immunity claim made by the defendant Jewayne Price, involved in a shootout at the Columbiana Centre mall during Easter weekend 2022. Price, among three charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault in connection with a mass shooting at the mall, is seeking immunity under the state’s Stand Your Ground Law.
Deliberations Underway
The Judge, following a three-day pre-trial hearing, has given attorneys a 15-day window to present their briefs regarding the immunity claim. Price’s defense team, composed of Todd Rutherford and Austin Nichols, argues that Price was acting in self-defense, embodying all the stipulations covered by the aforementioned law. State laws allow South Carolinians limited circumstances for deadly force, authorizing exemption from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits in particular scenarios.
Rutherford argued that Price’s actions were justifiable in response to a premeditated threat posed by co-defendants Amari Smith and Marquise Robinson. He insisted that the law required no more proof of Price’s perceived danger but rather validated his client’s reaction. He dismissed the idea that Price invited danger and objected to claims that he had not sought law enforcement assistance.
The State’s Arguments
The state, represented by 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard, paints a different picture. It posits that Price knowingly carried a firearm to the mall amidst a culture of violence, essentially transforming the public location into a battlefield. They further assert that the defendant fired the first shot, surprising Robinson who, admitting to expecting a confrontation, did not anticipate a shootout.
The prosecution also refers to Price’s social media activity, showing instances of taunting certain groups related to Amon Rice, a teenager tragically killed in a shooting in 2018. Countering this claim, Rutherford pointed out the dated nature of these messages and their irrelevance to the perceived threat level during the Easter weekend incident.
Upcoming Proceedings
While no official trial dates have been announced, the case continues under immense public scrutiny. With both parties equally confident in their outlook, it remains to be seen if Price’s defense is successful in securing immunity under South Carolinian law, shifting the course of this much-discussed case.
