
Julian Keel
COLUMBIA, S.C., — The Columbia Police Department has announced two arrests related to the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Julian “Juju” Keel, who was tragically killed while attending a graduation party in early June. Keel, a beloved three-sport athlete from Keenan High School, was caught in the crossfire of a violent altercation during the party outside Roll-Out Wangz Egg Rollz and Thangz on Colonial Life Boulevard.
Police reports reveal that over 50 rounds were fired by at least four different guns, with Keel being an innocent bystander, trying to flee the chaos. More than 100 partygoers were in attendance when shots rang out, the result of tensions between two rival groups, according to Columbia Police Chief “Skip” Holbrook.

Arrests Made
Columbia Police, working alongside the U.S. Marshals Carolina Fugitive Task Force and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Tonie Wilson, 20, in Sumter, charging him with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature. Wilson is currently being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
A 16-year-old suspect, arrested in the Gaston area of Lexington County, faces similar charges, including the additional charge of possession of a firearm under 18. Police confirmed that the teen was on supervised release and wearing an ankle monitor for a prior auto theft charge at the time of the incident.
The Weapon and Investigation
The Columbia Police seized a .300 blackout assault-style weapon, believed to be the murder weapon. Interestingly, this gun was purchased through the dark web, not stolen, adding another layer to the investigation. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) continues to probe into the origins of the firearm. This is the same firearm caliber that killed Maggie Murdaugh in June of 2021 in Colleton County, SC.
Thanks to Shotspotter technology, a gunshot detection system, law enforcement was able to track the sequence of events that led to Keel’s death. This system played a pivotal role in mapping out the movements of the shooters, allowing the police to identify the key suspects.
Teens in South Carolina Being Killed
Teenagers Julian “Juju” Keel and Kaden Moses both tragically lost their lives to gun violence in separate incidents that shocked their communities. Julian Keel, an innocent bystander, was fatally shot while fleeing a graduation party in Columbia, South Carolina, earlier this year. Arrests have since been made in connection with his death. Meanwhile, Kaden Moses was also gunned down, but unlike Keel’s case, no arrests have been made, and his killers remain at large. Both deaths highlight the ongoing crisis of gun violence affecting young lives and leaving families and communities devastated.
Remembering Julian Keel
Keel’s mother, Adrien Lake-Watson, expressed the unimaginable grief the family faces. “Nothing can fill the void Julian’s death has left in our lives,” she said, as she called for justice. Julian was an outspoken advocate against gun violence, a tragic irony in his untimely death.
Keel, who would have turned 17 on June 4th, was not only a standout athlete in track, wrestling, and football at Keenan High School, but also someone with a bright future. To honor his memory, the Theta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. at the University of South Carolina has created a scholarship in his name.
Chief Holbrook made it clear: “We won’t rest until all of those responsible are held accountable.” The investigation is still ongoing, but Holbrook confirmed that recent tips led to the arrests, providing a crucial breakthrough in the case.