Henry C. Durugbor of Columbia Obituary, Murder charge follows discovery at Richland County body shop
A man is charged with murder after deputies discovered a body at a body shop on Wednesday morning, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a body shop at the 1700 block of Percival Road regarding the discovery of a body. Upon arrival, deputies met with the caller, an acquaintance of the victim, who had not heard from him. Deputies say they observed the victim, an adult male, to be deceased.
Investigators responded to the scene and accessed security camera video of the incident, reportedly occurring on Tuesday at around 5:30 p.m.
Watching the security footage, investigators say they observed the suspect and victim get into an argument. Ultimately, investigators said the suspect, Michael Harper, drew a firearm and fatally shot the victim in the upper body before quickly leaving the scene in a vehicle, according to deputies.
At approximately 2 p.m., an investigator spotted the suspect’s vehicle in the area of O’Neil Court and requested backup. Deputies made a traffic stop on the vehicle and confirmed the driver as Harper, who was taken into custody without incident.
Harper is charged with murder. On Thursday, the Richland County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 47-year-old Henry C. Durugbor of Columbia.
Neither the Harper nor Durugbor is believed to be affiliated with the body shop, according to deputies.
