Amari Smith, age 24, of Columbia, has received a sentence of 30 years for his role in the April 16, 2022 Columbiana Mall mass shooting.
Smith pled guilty November 1, 2024, following the trial of State v. Jewayne Price in Lexington County. Price was convicted by a jury in October for his role in the mall shooting and was sentenced to 35 years.
This case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes. Smith pled guilty to one count of Attempted Murder and nine counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature after nine civilian bystanders were injured by gunfire while shopping at the Columbiana Mall on Easter weekend of 2022. The sentence was imposed by Judge Walton J. McLeod IV.
An additional co-defendant, Marquise Robinson, age 22 of Columbia, was convicted by a Lexington County jury after a separate trial in November of 2024 of nine counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature in connection with the Columbiana Mall shooting. Robinson is awaiting sentencing by Judge Walton J. McLeod IV.
On Saturday afternoon, April 16, 2022, Columbiana Mall was filled with employees and patrons, including families with children and infants in strollers. Price arrived at the mall with his girlfriend and was illegally carrying a concealed firearm in his pants. Video surveillance depicted that Price entered through a main entrance marked with signs prohibiting concealed weapons inside the mall.
Smith and Robinson also entered the mall while carrying concealed weapons in their waistbands. Smith and Robinson arrived together and also entered through a main entrance marked with signs prohibiting concealed weapons.
The investigation determined that Smith and Robinson had a pre-existing dispute with Jewayne Price, as a result of the 2018 shooting death of Amon Rice, age 17, in Columbia. The dispute escalated when the parties crossed paths at the mall. Video surveillance depicted Price pulling a 9 mm firearm and aiming it at Robinson, while Robinson and Smith also pulled firearms. Price and Smith exchanged numerous rounds of gunfire which struck the nine innocent bystanders. Price, Smith, and Robinson were not injured during the shootout.
The case was investigated by the Columbiana Police Department (CPD) and crime scene investigators. The investigation determined that at least 17 rounds of ammunition were fired inside the main corridor of the mall near The Gap store. Eleven rounds were matched to Price’s 9 mm Glock firearm. The remaining six rounds were fired by the unrecovered gun in the possession of Smith. Robinson’s .40 caliber firearm was later recovered by law enforcement and one spent shell casing was found in the gun’s chamber.
A Lexington County Sheriff’s Department CSI reconstruction expert determined six victims sustained gunshot wounds from Smith, including a 15 year-old girl and her 16 year-old brother who were shopping at the mall with their father during Easter weekend.
Following the sentence, 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard said, “Once again, the Court addressed the violent nature of this mass shooting. Many lives and families were permanently affected by this tragic event. We hope to reassure the public that acts of violence will not be tolerated in our community.”
Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge McLeod stated the sentence reflects the necessary “consequences” when multiple persons are injured by gunfire in a crowded public setting.
Amari Smith – Photo courtsey of Lexington County Detention Center
