Columbia man indicted for possession of gun fired at Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies (DOJ)

Columbia Man Indicted for Possession of Gun Fired at Richland County Sheriff's Deputies

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

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For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office, charging Renardo Tyson, Jr., 24, of Columbia, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2025, Tyson knowingly possessed a firearm, which was found in Tyson's car after he led Richland County Sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase and fired numerous rounds at deputies and K9s. The deputies and K9s were not injured.

Tyson has a prior felony conviction for possession of a stolen firearm, which prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Tyson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Parente is prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Updated September 30, 2026