15-year-old girl shot to death

An 18-year-old from Cayce and 2 minors are accused of kidnapping and shooting a Columbia girl to death last month in a remote part of Lexington County.

Nelson and the 2 minors are charged with murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to arrest warrants. The names of the juveniles, a male and a female, will not be released because they are under the age of 18.

Richland County teenager Sanaa Amenhotep was recovered from a wooded area in Leesville.

According to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher, an autopsy confirmed that Amenhotep had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The autopsy concluded that the gunshot wounds were the cause of Amenhotep’s death, which has been ruled a homicide.

Sanaa Amenhotep, 15, of Columbia was abducted from Richland County prior to being killed in Lexington County. Amenhotep’s death is believed to have occurred on April 5.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the homicide.

Rabid bat found in Lexington

A bat found in Lexington tested positive for rabies.

No people are known to have been exposed, but 2 dogs were near Robbie and Muddy Springs Roads. They will be quarantined as required in the SC Rabies Control Act.

The bat was tested by the Department of Health and Environmental Control laboratory April 26 and confirmed to have rabies on April 27.

If you believe that you, family members, or pets have come into contact with this bat or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DHEC’s Environmental Affairs Columbia office at (803) 896-0620 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).

Cops bust drug trafficker

Lexington County deputies conducted a traffic stop last that led to the seizure of more than 400 grams of cocaine and a gun.

Shakur Hakeem, 46, is charged with trafficking cocaine, 3 counts of possession of a firearm during a violent crime, possession of more than 15 MDMA pills, and possession of marijuana, according to arrest warrants.

“Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Hakeem Thursday,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said Wednesday night, April 28. “They seized two ounces of marijuana and more than $6,000 in cash.”

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Hakeem’s residence, where they found approximately 4 pounds of cocaine in a shed on the property, according to Koon. Hakeem said the shed belonged to him. Deputies later found 3 guns during their search of the property.

Hakeem is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center after a magistrate judge denied his bond.