Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Columbia Man on Charges in Recent Armed Robbery Investigation

Jason Antonio Busby

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Columbia man remains in jail today after his arrest yesterday by the Oconee County Sheriff's Office on six charges in relation to a recent armed robbery investigation.

Bond was denied on all charges today against 42 year old Jason Antonio Busby of Hallbrook Drive.  Busby was charged in the investigation with two counts of Kidnapping and one count each of Armed Robbery, Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Petit Larceny.

Busby was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 5:30pm Monday.  According to an Investigator with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Busby was taken into custody this past weekend by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.  Busby was transported to the Oconee County Detention Center yesterday by a Deputy from the Warrants Unit.

The Sheriff’s Office issued a news release on Monday, April 21st in regards to seeking the public’s help in an investigation into a reported armed robbery that occurred earlier that morning at the McDonald’s location on Sandifer Boulevard in Seneca. 

Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau were dispatched at around 4:25am that morning to the restaurant and began an investigation.  According to information obtained after arriving on scene, the Deputies were told that a male made entry into the store at around 4:21am.

The male told the employees to get on the floor and then proceeded to steal an undisclosed amount of money.  The male then left the store and headed in the direction of Miracle Circle in Seneca.

The male made threats to harm the employees by threatening to shoot them but no one was injured and all employees were accounted for and unharmed.  Deputies were told that the man held his hand under his jacket which gave the employees the impression that he was holding a firearm. 

The investigation was turned over to Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Bureau.  Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, an Investigator was able to identify Busby as the suspect in the case.  After meeting with a Magistrate Judge, arrest warrants were obtained against Busby. 

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.  Busby will appear before a Circuit Court Judge, at a later time, regarding his bond.