The Columbia Police Department reported that a body was found on the property of a Walmart Supercenter on Tuesday. The death was reported after 4 p.m. outside of the store on Garners Ferry Road, which is located in an area densely packed with retail businesses, hotels, and restaurants near Exit 9 on Interstate 77. The body was discovered inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Walmart, and the Richland County Coroner’s Office has not publicly identified the deceased person. Although information about how the person died was not available, police said no foul play is suspected. This Walmart was closed for several days in early May after a man intentionally set fire to the store, causing $500,000 of merchandise damage. In an unrelated but similar incident, a person died in the parking lot of another Walmart in the Midlands in late April, and there was no indication of foul play in that case either.
Columbia, SC — Columbia Police say a body was found in a Walmart parking lot earlier today.
According to Columbia Police Spokesperson Brick Lewis, the body was discovered by a Walmart employee at approximately 8:00 am on Monday. No other details about the body have been released.
The police are actively investigating the case and have asked for anyone with information to come forward. They have not yet released the identity of the body, nor have they released the cause of death.
At this time, investigators are asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in or around the Walmart parking lot on Monday morning to contact the police.
The police have not released any information on whether or not they have identified any suspects in the incident.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
