Shooting at a West Columbia Bojangles sends a Lexington County Man to Prison for 16 Years

West Columbia, SC 04/10/2026 - Donte Simpson, an 18-year-old from West Columbia, pled guilty to Attempted Murder and Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature this week in Lexington County. Circuit Court Judge Debra R. McCaslin sentenced Simpson to sixteen (16) years concurrent in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Under South Carolina law, Attempted Murder is classified as a most serious, violent, and no-parole offense. Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature is classified as a serious, violent, no-parole offense.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Solicitor Rhonda Patterson on behalf of the Solicitor’s Office, and the West Columbia Police Department handled the investigation.

On December 28, 2024, while working at Bojangles located at 1200 Augusta Road in West Columbia, Simpson shot at two customers at the drive-thru window. Based on witness statements and surveillance video, a coworker of Simpson engaged in a verbal exchange with the driver of the vehicle at the drive-thru window. This coworker walks toward the rear of the employee area of the restaurant and says something to Simpson. Simpson then walks to the drive-thru window and looks at the two customers in the vehicle at the drive-thru window. Simpson then walked away.

Simpson then returned to the drive-thru area, pushed the coworker out of the way, and shot multiple times at the customers through the window. Simpson then jumped out of the window and continued shooting at the victims as they sped away from the Bojangles. West Columbia Police Department responded to the scene and recovered seventeen (17) shell casings as well as a magazine for the firearm used in the shooting. Simpson’s uniform and his identification were also located in the parking lot area.

Both victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were treated at a local hospital. There was no evidence that the victims had any weapons and there was some indication during the investigation of prior issues between the driver and Simpson. Simpson fled the scene and was apprehended on January 8, 2025, at a local hotel.

Simpson will be transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin service of his sentence.