Update 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 28: 3 teenagers charged in string of kidnappings, robberies
Update 1:00 p.m. Friday, July 28: The Village at Columbia releases statement promising to boost police presence in the coming days.
Update 5:55 p.m. Thursday, July 27: Two suspects in recent crime spree are in custody, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
Update 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27: Police report released detailing Tuesday morning incident at Stadium Suites.
Update 10:40 a.m. Thursday, July 27: Police report released in Wednesday morning incident at Village of Columbia.
USC students have taken to social media to express their concern with a string of alleged kidnapping and armed robbery incidents at off-campus housing complexes.
Stadium Suites, a student apartment complex located in the shadow of Williams-Brice Stadium, warned occupants Tuesday afternoon of an ongoing crime wave in the area. The release, provided to The Daily Gamecock, revealed that Richland County Sheriff's Department was investigating five armed robberies that took place near the complex over the past two weeks.
One incident, the release states, involved two individuals being forced at gunpoint into their own cars at the complex between 1 and 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. The students were then driven out of the complex and later dropped off along Rosewood Drive. Neither victim was injured and both cars were later found.
Then on Wednesday morning, Midlands Tech and former USC student Jordan Dinsmore took to a friend's Facebook account to announce that she had been kidnapped at gunpoint only yards from her apartment off Shop Road at The Village at Columbia. Dinsmore said she was able to escape by jumping out of a moving vehicle and gaining the attention of a passing motorist, who contacted authorities.
Dinsmore elaborated on her Twitter account Wednesday evening with more information, which she said was from the police department.
While encouraging students to take extra safety precautions, the student wrote "A group of around five black males ages 15-25 have been attacking people while armed since last Friday."
She went on to say that students are being targeted in Bluff Road and Shop Road apartment complexes, including but not limited to The Village at Columbia, The Retreat and Stadium Suites.
Ross Lordo confirmed Wednesday evening that he will meet with administrators from the Department of Student Life and Off-Campus Student Services Thursday morning to discuss the incidents.
This is a developing story. We will continue to update as information becomes available.
*This is an updated story. A previous version of this story referred to Dinsmore as a current USC student.