Jada S. Watts, Columbia, South Carolina: 30-Year-Old Woman Killed in Shooting That Injured 11-Year-Old Girl

Jada S. Watts, 30, of Columbia, was killed in a Richland County shooting that also wounded an 11-year-old girl. Authorities continue investigating the incident.

Rewritten Article

The Columbia, South Carolina, community is mourning the death of Jada S. Watts, a 30-year-old woman who was killed in a shooting that also left an 11-year-old girl injured in Richland County. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, November 7, 2026, and remains under investigation.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office identified Watts as the adult victim in a statement released November 8. Her death has prompted renewed concern following an incident in which a child was also wounded.

What Happened in the Richland County Shooting?

According to local news reports citing the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were called at approximately 5 a.m. on November 7 after reports of shooting victims at a residence in the 200 block of Cricket Ridge in Lexington County.

Investigators determined that the shooting had occurred in the 100 block of Haverford Drive in Richland County, before the victims were taken to the Lexington County location.

Authorities reportedly found Watts unresponsive near a vehicle outside the residence. She had sustained a gunshot wound to her upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An 11-year-old girl was found inside the residence with a gunshot wound to her upper body. Emergency responders transported the child to a hospital for treatment. Her condition had not been publicly disclosed in the reports reviewed.

The coroner’s office subsequently confirmed Watts’s identity and age.

Remembering Jada S. Watts

Beyond the official reports, the supplied tribute describes Watts as a woman who was known to loved ones by the name “Jada May StrongMama.” It also says she had recently celebrated her 30th birthday and was nearing completion of her medical assistant training.

Those details offer a glimpse of the future she was working toward. Completing her training could have marked an important step in her career, but she did not get the opportunity to reach that milestone.

The tribute also describes her as someone who brought positive energy to her workplace and was remembered by those who knew her. Her mother, Stephanie Rudolph Watts, is named in the supplied account as one of the family members grieving her death.

Investigation Continues

The shooting left one woman dead and an 11-year-old girl injured. Authorities have not publicly established a motive or announced an arrest in the reports reviewed. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the gunfire and how the victims came to be at the Lexington County residence after the shooting.

Friends, relatives and others who knew Jada are left remembering her life, her ambitions and the relationships she shared with those around her.

A Message of Condolences to Jada’s Family

Heartfelt condolences go out to Jada S. Watts’s mother, relatives, friends and everyone affected by her death. The thoughts of the community are also with the 11-year-old girl as she receives medical care. May those grieving Jada find comfort and support during this difficult time.

Disclaimer

The victim’s identity, age, date of the incident and the reported circumstances of the shooting are supported by the Richland County Coroner’s Office and local news coverage. The nickname, birthday, medical assistant training, workplace tribute and family details come from the material supplied for this article and were not independently verified through the official sources reviewed. The child’s current condition, the motive and any suspect information had not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed. The investigation remains ongoing.