Couple fought and woman was assaulted, SC cops say. Here’s what the man did next
A South Carolina woman was recently assaulted and targeted in a shooting by her boyfriend, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
The attack and gunfire happened Monday near a True Luck Lane home in Ridgeway, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday in a news release. That’s in a part of Fairfield County between I-77 and Devil’s Race Track Road.
Deputies learned about the shooting from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, who had made contact with a female victim at a separate location in Columbia, according to the release.
The victim said she’s been shot at the True Luck Lane property, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said.
Fairfield County deputies learned that the victim had driven her boyfriend, 25-year-old Balewa Mayo Jr., to the Ridgeway home to drop him off, according to the release. While still in the vehicle at the home, the couple argued, then an angry Mayo physically assaulted the victim before getting out and pulling out a gun which he fired multiple times at the victim as she drove away, the sheriff’s office said.
While investigators were meeting with the victim, additional deputies secured the True Luck Lane residence and contacted Mayo’s family members, learning that he had left before law enforcement officers arrived, according to the release.
A family member spoke with Mayo, who agreed to return to the home and surrender, the sheriff’s office said. That conversation also provided deputies with information about the location of the gun used in the shooting, according to the release.
Deputies searched the home and found seven spent shell casings and the suspected firearm used in the crime, the sheriff’s office said. During the search, Mayo returned and surrendered without incident, according to the release.
Mayo was taken to sheriff’s office headquarters, where he admitted firing multiple rounds into the victim’s vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
Mayo was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, domestic violence (high and aggravated nature) and discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle, according to the release.
Mayo’s bond was set at $65,000 on the combined charges and has not been posted, Fairfield County court records show. He’s scheduled to return to court March 18, according to judicial records.
Despite May’s arrest, anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 803-815-4120, or 803-635-4141.
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This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Couple fought and woman was assaulted, SC cops say. Here’s what the man did next."
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified the employment status of a former Clear Dot Charter School teacher. Najla Clayton taught at the charter school, but was employed by a staffing agency.
