The family of the woman killed in the Harbison Bojangle shooting is speaking out

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – The family of the woman shot and killed Thursday at the Bojangles on Harbison Boulevard is speaking out for the first time.

The Columbia Police Department (CPD) said 40-year-old Antoinette Hammonds-Colón, an employee at the Bojangles, died in hospital from injuries sustained in the shooting.

Colón’s sister, TraciMarie Colón-Jones and Denise Colón, said their sister had only been working at the Bojangles on Harbison Boulevard for a few months.

They said their sister had a heart of gold, and their family is devastated that she is gone as the search continues to find the suspect charged in the case.

“An energetic, clumsy child who grew up afraid of literally everything,” the sisters said.

This was the type of person Antoinette Hammonds-Colón was growing up in Ohio with her two sisters and brother. TraciMarie said Antoinette’s love for helping others will live on forever.

“She just had a heart of gold,” TraciMarie said. “She would help anyone even if she had nothing. She was still preparing food for people and inviting everyone into her kitchen.”

Hammonds-Colón shares nine children and one grandchild with her husband of ten years, William Hammonds.

She came to South Carolina with the rest of their family in 2013, after TraciMarie first moved in 2011.

TraciMarie said her sister was always a family person and she put time spent with her parents and siblings first.

“She was all about family time; every time she could be crazy and act a fool, that’s what she did; If she could put a smile on your face, she would,” TraciMarie said. “She was die-hard for her children, she was die-hard for her sisters, she adored her brother.”

No arrests have been made in the shooting, but CPD is actively searching for 23-year-old suspect Ja’Quivian Kennerly, who has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Deputy Chief Melron Kelly said this type of gun violence has cost the lives of one too many innocent people.

“Miss Colon was completely innocent,” Kelly said. “She was 40 years old, she was working at Bojangles, doing her job; Completely senseless act of violence. Every act of violence is one too many and we must simply say enough is enough, especially when it comes to gun violence.”

Kelly said anyone who helps Kennerly could also be charged.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Columbia Police. CPD also encourages anyone with additional information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

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