Lexington County authorities are investigating the homicide of a 47-year-old man found shot outside a West Columbia residence. The Lexington County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Hoyt Mitchell Jennings, a resident of Columbia, South Carolina.
Deputies were dispatched to the scene on Sunday, February 8, 2026, after receiving reports of a death investigation. The incident occurred in a residential neighborhood, with Jennings’s body found outside a home in the 100 block of Villa Court. This area is located in the West Columbia section of Lexington County, near the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Authorities were called at approximately 4:40 p.m. that evening. When they arrived, they discovered Jennings on the scene with a fatal gunshot wound to his upper body. The Lexington County Coroner, Margaret Fisher, pronounced him dead at the location due to his injuries.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department reported that one person has been detained in connection with the fatal shooting. Officials have stated there is no ongoing threat to public safety related to this incident. The specific circumstances that led to the shooting, a potential motive, and the identity of the detained person have not been released.
The investigation remains active and is being jointly conducted by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and the Lexington County Coroner’s Office. Officials have indicated that more information may be released as the investigation progresses. As a developing story, details are subject to change as authorities continue their work.
As the community awaits further details, the victim, Hoyt Mitchell Jennings, has been memorialized by family and friends. In comments on an official social media post announcing his death, one individual expressed shock and offered prayers for his wife, children, and extended family. His name has also been listed on a national memorial for gun violence victims.
