RIDGEWAY – A 25-year-old man is in custody after allegedly assaulting a woman and firing multiple rounds into her vehicle as she attempted to flee a residence on True Luck Lane in Ridgeway.

Balewa Mayo Jr. was arrested Monday, Jan. 12, following an investigation that began when the victim sought help at a separate location in Columbia.

According to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first alerted to the situation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, who had made contact with the female victim in Columbia. The woman reported that the shooting had occurred earlier that day in Ridgeway.

Investigators determined that the victim had driven Mayo to the True Luck Lane residence to drop him off. The victim told deputies that an argument escalated when Mayo physically assaulted her. As she attempted to drive away, Mayo allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at her vehicle.

While Fairfield County investigators were interviewing the victim, additional deputies secured the scene in Ridgeway. Though Mayo had initially fled the area, family members at the home assisted in negotiating his return. Mayo eventually returned to the residence and surrendered to authorities without incident.

During a search of the property, investigators recovered seven spent shell casings and the suspected firearm. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Mayo admitted to firing the rounds into the victim’s vehicle during a subsequent interview.

Mayo has been charged with attempted murder, Domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Robert Byrd at 803-815-4120 or the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-635-4141.