Two men arrested for shooting death of woman

COLUMBIA – Two men have been arrested in the shooting death of a Florida woman outside a bar at 7708 Fairfield Road, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Malcolm Clinton, 26, and James Alterique White, 23, were charged with the murder of Joyell Snell, 45, of Fort Myers, FL. The incident occurred on Dec. 12, 2021.

The woman, who was shot in the upper body as she was leaving the bar, was, according to the sheriff’s department, an innocent bystander.

Snell was transported to an area hospital where she died, according to officials.

After more than a month following the shooting, Clinton and White were arrested – Clinton on Jan. 15, 2021 and White on Jan. 24. White was also charged with removing his electronic monitoring device, officials said.

Both men were booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. No bond has been set for either of them, records show.

On the night of the shooting, White and Clinton were seen entering the bar, returning to the parking lot and entering a vehicle, according to the release. As the vehicle left, shots were fired, hitting the woman.

According to the public index, White was arrested for a previous club shooting last June and was free on bond for several previous charges when Snell was killed, the sheriff’s department said.

White was granted a $175,000 surety bond after being charged with the attempted murder of a security guard at Hookah Lounge, 2700 Broad River Road, on May 2, 2021, according to the release. The security guard was shot in the upper body but survived.

White was also free on bond for several weapons charges stemming from incidents about a month before the Hookah Lounge shooting, according the sheriff’s news release. On March 12, White was arrested after deputies attempted a traffic stop and he led them on a short chase, the sheriff’s department said. He was charged with failure to stop for blue lights, simple possession of marijuana, driving under suspension, and use of a vehicle without the owner’s consent. He was released on a bond for this incident, according to the release.

Less than two weeks later, on March 24, White was again arrested after deputies responded to a shots fired call. He was charged with simple possession of marijuana, unlawfully carrying a pistol, and possession of a stolen pistol, according to the release. White then posted a $15,000 surety bond, the sheriff’s department said.

“We have violent people being arrested, released and they continue to commit crimes. The only way to protect our communities is to keep them locked up,” Sheriff Lott said in the release. “White shot a security guard doing his job, was arrested and bonded out. Six months later he shoots and kills an innocent person. Our community needs help. The concept of catch and release is not working. We are doing our part in solving crime and making arrests. We need help in keeping them off the streets.”