Tragedy in Columbia: Three-Year-Old’s Death Sparks Outrage, Focuses Attention on Felon Gun Possession and Storage Laws

Executive Overview

In a heartbreaking incident that has reignited the statewide debate over gun storage, firearm safety, and illegal weapon possession, three-year-old Erin Myers lost his life on Thursday, September 3, 2026, after accidentally shooting himself with an unsecured handgun. The incident, which occurred in a residential apartment complex in Columbia, South Carolina, has led to the arrest of the child’s uncle, 21-year-old Tyrone Thompson Jr.

Thompson, a previously convicted felon who was legally prohibited from possessing firearms, now faces multiple criminal charges. Law enforcement officials revealed that Thompson not only left the loaded weapon within reach of the toddler but also fled the scene immediately after the shooting occurred, failing to render any aid to his dying nephew.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of felon-in-possession laws and raising urgent questions about how easily prohibited individuals can obtain firearms. As the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department continue their joint investigation, the incident highlights a devastating intersection of systemic criminal justice challenges and the preventable loss of pediatric life.

Detailed Chronology of Events

The Incident on Bailey Street

The emergency began on the afternoon of Thursday, September 3, 2026. At approximately 5:40 p.m., the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Columbia Police Department received emergency calls reporting a shooting at an apartment complex located on Bailey Street, near The Colony apartments—a residential area in north Columbia.

According to Deputy Chief Melron Kelly of the Columbia Police Department, first responders arrived at the scene within minutes of the dispatch.

"Richland County deputies responded to the scene," Deputy Chief Kelly stated during a press briefing. "Once arrived on scene, they found a toddler that had been struck by gunfire."

The child, later identified by the Richland County Coroner’s Office as three-year-old Erin Myers, had sustained a single, devastating gunshot wound to his upper body. Emergency medical services immediately initiated life-saving protocols and transported the toddler to a local hospital. Despite the exhaustive efforts of pediatric trauma specialists, Erin succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

Timeline of Events: Thursday, September 3 – Saturday, September 5, 2026

[Sept 3, ~5:30 PM]  --> Tyrone Thompson Jr. leaves loaded firearm unattended in room with 3-year-old Erin Myers.
[Sept 3, 5:40 PM]   --> Single gunshot fired. Erin sustains upper-body wound. Thompson flees, discarding the weapon.
[Sept 3, 5:42 PM]   --> Parents (in a separate room) discover the child and call 911.
[Sept 3, 5:48 PM]   --> First responders arrive; Erin is rushed to local hospital, where he is pronounced dead.
[Sept 4, Morning]   --> Richland County Coroner's Office formally identifies Erin Myers; Thompson is apprehended.
[Sept 5, Morning]   --> Bond hearing: Thompson granted $250,000 bond with strict electronic monitoring.

The Investigation and Flight of the Suspect

As investigators secured the crime scene, a disturbing sequence of events began to emerge. Detectives determined that Erin had been in a room with his uncle, Tyrone Thompson Jr., who had brought a handgun into the residence. Thompson allegedly left the loaded firearm completely unattended and accessible to the toddler.

Moments later, the three-year-old discovered the weapon and accidentally discharged it. Erin’s parents were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting but were in a different room and did not witness the immediate sequence of events leading up to the discharge.

Upon hearing the gunshot, the parents rushed into the room to find their son critically injured. However, rather than assisting the family or calling for emergency medical services, Thompson allegedly grabbed the firearm, fled the apartment, and disposed of the weapon nearby before evading responding officers.

"The parents were inside the residence, but they were not in the same room," Deputy Chief Kelly explained. "They called 911, but we know that the male who is in custody fled the scene with the weapon and did not render aid."

Arrest and Initial Court Appearances

Following a brief search, law enforcement officers apprehended Thompson. Because of his criminal record, which included a prior felony conviction in South Carolina, Thompson was immediately charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

On Saturday, September 5, 2026, Thompson appeared before a Richland County magistrate for a bond hearing. The judge set his bond at $250,000, attaching several stringent conditions to his potential release. Should Thompson post bond, he will be placed on active electronic monitoring (GPS tracking), restricted to home confinement, and strictly prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

Supporting Context & Metrics

The death of Erin Myers is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a documented nationwide and statewide crisis involving unsecured firearms and pediatric casualties.

Pediatric Firearm Mortality Statistics

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and pediatric safety advocacy groups, firearms remain the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States.

• Unintentional Shootings: Estimates indicate that hundreds of children under the age of 18 access loaded, unsecured firearms and shoot themselves or others accidentally every year.
• Storage Habits: Studies by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions reveal that approximately 4.6 million American children live in homes with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm.
• The Felon-in-Possession Loophole: In South Carolina, despite clear state and federal statutes prohibiting individuals with felony convictions from owning or possessing firearms, illegal straw purchases, unlicensed private sales, and theft continue to feed an active underground market for handguns.

Community Vulnerability in North Columbia

Residents of The Colony apartments and the surrounding Bailey Street neighborhood expressed deep alarm over local crime rates and the prevalence of firearms in their community. The complex has seen recurring interactions with law enforcement, leaving many residents feeling hyper-vigilant and fearful for the safety of their children.

For families living in these high-density residential areas, the tragedy of Erin Myers represents a constant, terrifying reality where the actions of irresponsible adults directly threaten the lives of innocent children playing yards away.

Official Statements and Community Response

Law Enforcement and Prosecution

The Columbia Police Department has expressed profound frustration over the preventable nature of this tragedy. Deputy Chief Melron Kelly did not mince words when discussing Thompson’s criminal history and his actions on the evening of the shooting.

"He had no business with a weapon. He’d already been convicted of a felony in the state. Not only did he violate the law by having the gun, but his complete lack of compassion—leaving a dying three-year-old child to protect himself from arrest—is reprehensible."

— Deputy Chief Melron Kelly, Columbia Police Department

Kelly added that the parents of Erin Myers have been cleared of any criminal involvement regarding the illegal possession of the firearm, as the weapon belonged solely to Thompson. However, the department confirmed that the investigation remains active and that additional, more severe charges—potentially including involuntary manslaughter, child neglect, or obstruction of justice—are being reviewed by the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

A Community Traumatized

On the days following the shooting, the atmosphere around Bailey Street was heavy with grief and anger. Neighbors recalled the chaotic moments immediately after the gunshot echoed through the courtyard.

"It was very chaotic, traumatizing; the mom was crying — it was bad," recalled one neighbor who witnessed the arrival of emergency vehicles.

Another resident, an older sister living in the complex, expressed her growing anxiety about raising younger siblings in an environment where illegal firearms are common. "I’m an older sister; my brothers, they’re out here," she said. "They’re witnessing a lot of crime… that has me very overprotective about mine. You can’t even let your family play outside or sit in their own living room without worrying about a stray bullet or a gun being left around."

The Family’s Memorial and Statement

On Saturday afternoon, family members, friends, and neighbors gathered outside the apartment on Bailey Street to hold a balloon release in memory of Erin. A growing memorial consisting of colorful balloons, flickering candles, and dinosaur toys began to accumulate at the front door of the residence where the child lived and died.

The Myers family released an emotional statement through local media outlet WIS, expressing their profound grief while celebrating the brief life of their son:

"We are devastated by this loss, and our hearts ache for the life that was taken too soon. At the same time, we are deeply grateful for every memory, every smile, every moment of love, and every beautiful part of Erin that will remain with us forever."

Future Outlook and Legal Implications

As the criminal case against Tyrone Thompson Jr. moves forward, legal experts anticipate a complex prosecutorial process.

Potential Additional Charges

While Thompson is currently held on a $250,000 bond for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office is expected to present further charges to a Richland County grand jury. Potential charges under consideration include:

1. Involuntary Manslaughter: Under South Carolina law, involuntary manslaughter is defined as the killing of another person without malice, but with a reckless disregard for the safety of others. Leaving a loaded handgun within reach of a toddler meets the threshold of criminal negligence.
2. Unlawful Conduct Toward a Child: This felony charge carries up to 10 years in prison for any custodian or adult who places a child in a situation that unreasonably places their life or health at risk.
3. Obstruction of Justice / Tampering with Evidence: Because Thompson fled the scene with the firearm and disposed of it to evade law enforcement, prosecutors are highly likely to add obstruction charges.

Legislative Debates on Gun Storage

The death of Erin Myers is likely to reignite legislative debates in the South Carolina General Assembly regarding safe storage laws. Currently, South Carolina does not impose criminal liability on gun owners who fail to store their firearms securely, unless the firearm is knowingly provided to a minor or a prohibited person.

Advocates for gun safety argue that mandatory "Cap-Firearm" laws (Child Access Prevention) are desperately needed to hold gun owners accountable when children gain access to unsecured weapons. Conversely, opponents of such measures argue that education, rather than criminal mandates, is the key to preventing accidental shootings.

For the residents of Columbia and the family of young Erin Myers, these policy debates are secondary to the immediate, devastating reality of their loss. As a memorial of dinosaur toys and candles sits outside a quiet apartment door, a community mourns a life cut short by a single moment of reckless negligence.