Violent crime percentages are trending downward, but still too high says Sheriff Lott

Press conference addresses the good and not-so-good in terms of criminal activity over the previous year

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott held a first-of-the-year press conference, January 6, addressing countywide crime trends – the good and the not so good – going into 2026.

Lott opened with a question he’s often asked: “Is it really that bad? Is crime totally out of control?” His answer: “No it’s not [out of control]. We just hear more about it, and it’s publicized more, which is a good thing because it makes people more aware.”

Beginning with the “numbers,” Lott said, “Numbers are cold. These are people’s lives,” he said. “These are people who have lost their lives, people who are in jail, people who have become victims of crime.”

HOMICIDE NUMBERS

Regarding the numbers, the good news is Richland County murders are down by “one” point when compared with the number of murders in 2024. There were, in fact, 26 murders committed in Richland County in 2025, with 27 in 2024, and 23 in 2023. There were also 37 suspects arrested for murder in 2025 with murder victims ranging in age from 16 to 78.

“That’s a total of 63 families negatively impacted,” said Lott. “That’s not good.”

THE POSITIVE NEWS

Though Lott downplays the word, “positive” in any discussion of homicides and other violent crimes, he pointed to the fact that the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) has not experienced a single unsolved murder in three consecutive years – from the beginning of 2023 trough the end of 2025.

Lott said, “it’s rare” that an agency the size of RCSD operating in a metropolitan area as vast as Columbia and Richland County is able to solve that many murders in a single year, but three years running is a testament to several effective crime-solving elements employed by RCSD.

THREE YEARS RUNNING

“We are so dedicated to bringing justice to the families and to the victims,” Lott said. “I think we sometimes lose sight of that, and that’s very important. We have solved every murder for three years: How? It’s a combination.”

Lott points first to responding deputies who process and secure (protect) the scene of the crime. Secondly, RCSD investigators arrive and begin their meticulous investigative (detective) work.

TEAMWORK AND TECHNOLOGY

“It’s a team effort,” said Lott. “It’s not one or two investigators assigned to a case like you might see on TV.”

The team – everybody who represents different sections of the Sheriff’s Department – gathers together and shares information. Tasks are assigned, and it’s all done very quickly. “You then bring technology into that,” says Lott. “Technology has improved so much over the course of my career. We’re doing things now that no one would have imagined 50 years ago.”

Lott adds: “Our forensics laboratory has been opened since 2002. “We don’t have to rely on somebody else,” said Lott. “We can take evidence from a crime scene [process it] and in a short period of time, we have the results we need.”

RCSD’s forensics lab is second to none and was the first to open after the state’s SLED lab opened years ago.

COMMUNITY IS KEY

“Community plays a huge part,” said Lott. “We’ve worked so hard over the years to build trust with the community. They trust us, We trust them. The community doesn’t hesitate to call and give us information.”

OTHER CRIMES

As regards other crimes: Sexual assaults were down nearly six percent with 69 sexual assault cases reported in 2025 and 73 such cases in 2024. Numbers of robberies remained the same with 137 cases reported in 2025 and 137 reported in 2024.

Assaults were up 15 percent with 1,151 reported in 2025 and 1,000 reported in 2024. Why? In increase in homelessness migrating from the city to the county. Same with the 13.3-percent increase in larceny numbers: 2,617 larcenies reported in 2025, and 2,310 reported in 2024. “That’s primarily shoplifting,” said Lott. “That’s homeless people stealing.”

Burglaries have remained the same with 779 reported in both 2025 and in 2024. Motor vehicle thefts are down nearly 20 percent as are larcenies from autos which are down 7.3 percent.

Guns reported stolen in 2025 were 479 (225 stolen from vehicles), down from 517 (240 from vehicles) in 2024. Total firearms turned into RCSD evidence were 1,663 in 2025, down from 1,559 in 2024. The number of guns stolen and recovered in 2025 were 177. Of that number, 46 were stolen from vehicles.

“Vehicles are not holsters,” said Lott. “Don’t leave your guns in your vehicles. I’m often asked: ‘Where do these young people get guns?’ It’s from people leaving guns in their vehicles.”

SAVING YOUTH

Lott also addressed “parent accountability” and the success of RCSD’s Youth Services Division including the much-heralded RCSD Youth Arbitration program (voted the #1 “BEST Youth Diversionary Program in S.C. for three consecutive years) which helps keep youth who have committed minor infractions from being incarcerated or from having a criminal record.

The Sheriff concluded with a discussion of the importance and effectiveness of school resource officers (SROs). “There are 102 school resource officer’s building relationships with students,” said Lott. “This is important.”

SROs are sworn deputies who provide safety and security for students and faculty. They serve as unique law enforcement mentors and counselors. They bond with and build relationships with students. They guide students in making good life-choices. And they serve as “liaisons” with fellow deputies and other first-responders during any-and-all potential and possible emergencies at the school wherein they serve.

STEADY, NOT RAMPANT, BUT TOO MUCH

“It’s not complicated,” said Lott. “It’s about going out in the community and being part of the community. So when you look at the amount of crime we have, it’s steady. It’s not rampant, not out of control, but it’s too much. Too many lives that we’ve lost, and too many lives we’re losing because they’re in prison. Too many victims. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Lott added: “We’re going to continue to do our part every single day. I’m just standing here asking everybody in the community – and that means everybody in the community – be part of the solution. If you’re not, you’re part of the problem.”

 

– For more information about the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, please visit http://rcsd.net