La’Kenyatta Moore-Rhodes, the 40-year-old woman who was arrested with a 13-year-old for bringing a gun into the Columbiana Centre mall Wednesday night, is also accused of threatening three transgender individuals with the firearm.

The minor suspect she was arrested with was later found with a second loaded gun inside the state Department of Juvenile Justice.

“While inside the mall, [she] is accused of getting into a verbal altercation with and using offensive and derogatory language at three people who identify as transgender,” the Columbia Police Department says in a Thursday release. “During the altercation, the suspect is accused of presenting a firearm at the victims. No shots were fired.”

Charges of carrying weapons and hate intimidation were added to those already made against Moore-Rhodes following the incident.

The City of Columbia enacted an ordinance in 2019 allowing for the hate intimidation charge to be added when certain crimes, including illegal possession of a firearm, are committed “with the intent to intimidate a person in whole or in part because of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, expression or national origin of any person.”

Rhodes-Moore is currently in custody at the Lexington County Detention Center, according to the jail's website.

She was previously charged with pointing and presenting a firearm, unlawful carry of a firearm and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

“When officers arrived, they found the suspects near the food court and detained them,” reads a previous release from Columbia Police. “After searching the teen, officers found a loaded 9mm firearm on him. During the course of the investigation and after reviewing surveillance video, investigators determined that Moore-Rhodes initially had the loaded gun in her possession and gave it to the teen.”

Columbia police noted that Moore-Rhodes does not have a concealed weapons permit.

After being arrested and taken to the state Department of Juvenile Justice, the minor suspect was found to be in possession of a second gun inside the facility, Columbia Police and DJJ confirmed to the Chronicle.

“On Wednesday, staff at the Juvenile Detention Center received information that a youth in the facility was possibly in possession of a weapon, which was loaded,” DJJ said in a statement. “Staff immediately responded to the situation and recovered the weapon safely and without incident. The weapon was originally brought into the facility by a youth transported and charged with weapons violations by the City of Columbia. The youth was patted down, showered, and dressed in facility clothes.”

Both Columbia Police and DJJ acknowledged errors that led to the gun entering the facility.

“During an initial encounter with the teen and as a CPD officer began the search process, the suspect ran from police,” Columbia Police said in a statement. “Once officers caught up with the teen, they confiscated a loaded 9mm handgun. It was later determined that the juvenile suspect had a second gun concealed on his body that was undetected by officers.

“This incident represents an egregious failure on many levels, including a violation of policy and procedure. This lack of a thorough search is unacceptable and risked public and officer safety. Chief Holbrook has directed the Office of Professional Standards to conduct an Internal Affairs investigation regarding the matter.  The arresting officers have been placed on administrative duty pending the completion of remedial training on handcuffing and searching of prisoners.”

DJJ, too, said it will take steps to address the incident.

“We are thankful that the weapon was ultimately recovered safely by our staff. However, this entire series of events was preventable,” the state agency said. “We have initiated an immediate review to revamp the entire intake process and are consulting with outside experts. All staff will be retrained on intake, search, and other safety procedures. The safety and security of our staff and youth is our highest priority. 

“We will also work with our law enforcement partners that utilize our detention center to prevent contraband from entering our facilities. The staff directly involved with this incident have been suspended pending our investigation.”

The teen is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 18, unlawful carry of a firearm, and pointing and presenting a firearm. After their arrest, they were taken to the state Department of Juvenile Justice.