Gray Collegiate Academy mourns loss of teen basketball player who was shot and killed over the weeke

West Columbia, SC (Paul Kirby) The students and staff of Gray’s Collegiate Academy are in mourning at the loss of Tiquan Taylor, 14, of Irmo, who died Sunday morning after a senseless shooting. The Richland County Coroner’s office said he died from a gunshot wound to the upper body.

Taylor played for Gray Collegiate’s junior varsity basketball and football teams. Gray’s Collegiate is a SC Charter School located on Leaphart Road in the West Columbia area of Lexington County. According to a member of the school’s board of trustees, the entire student body was in shock upon learning of Taylor’s death Monday.

The shooting happened at 1510 St. Andrews Road, Columbia. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident because it happened in an unincorporated area of that county. They haven’t released much information regarding the investigation at this point.

According to a representative of the school, there are several special events being considered that will help the student body deal with the death of Taylor and honor his memory. Those plans haven’t been publicly announced.