Eight-year sentence follows guilty plea in Richland County hate crime case
October 8, 2026
Jonathan Andrew Felkel pleaded guilty Oct. 6 to assault and battery, first degree, and hate crime intimidation. The Honorable Christopher D. Taylor sentenced Felkel to eight years in a South Carolina Department of Corrections facility, to run concurrently with his federal sentence.
On the morning of July 17, 2025, Felkel fired his rifle at Jarvis McKenzie while parked at the entrance of the Spring Valley neighborhood.
McKenzie, who was waiting for his ride to work, ran from the shot and hid behind a brick wall. Surveillance video captured Felkel shouting, “Keep running, boy,” at McKenzie.
Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) deputies later apprehended Felkel. During an interview with law enforcement, Felkel said he was driving around the neighborhood with his firearm, looking for people committing crimes, and later confessed to shooting his rifle at McKenzie.
Felkel admitted to RCSD Sgt. Chris Mastrianni that the crime was racially motivated.
Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office Assistant Solicitor Paul Walton prosecuted the case. RCSD led the investigation.