Richland County Council upholds revocation of Jercut LLC bar license after deadly June shooting

Richland County Council voted unanimously July 14 to uphold the revocation of alcohol and business licenses for Jercut LLC, doing business as the Jercut, at 1004 Zimlercrest Drive, following testimony from county licensing staff and the sheriff’s department documenting repeated public-safety incidents, noncompliance and a fatal June shooting.

The council’s decision came after Zach Kavanaugh, the county’s business-licensing official, reviewed the establishment’s licensing history and a chronology of law-enforcement responses dating to early 2025. “Pursuant to section 18-8 titled public nuisances … this review shall constitute an automatic appeal of the matter,” Kavanaugh said, detailing citations, missed hospitality-tax remissions between July 2025 and June 2026 and a May 23, 2026 citation for operating without a business license.

Major Pagoda of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department described compliance checks and the April and June incidents that prompted the county’s action. The major said deputies found firearms and narcotics during inspections, that staff did not intervene during violent confrontations shown on surveillance, and that the department was initially alerted by ShotSpotter rather than by the business. “We would rate it as a 10,” Major Pagoda said when asked to assess the establishment’s safety risk.

Representatives for the business conceded the incidents were serious but urged the council to distinguish the acts of individuals from management conduct and to allow the business an opportunity to correct problems. Ayanna Kegler, speaking for owner Kamisha Coleman, said management had cooperated with law enforcement, upgraded cameras and security, and asked the council to consider the restaurant’s two-year operating history. “We are asking for the opportunity to be a part of the solution,” Kegler said.

Manager Africa Olds told the council the security guard found with contraband was not on duty at the time and that the business had already upgraded its security firm, implemented wand searches and required alcohol-service certification for staff. Kegler and Olds also said hospitality-tax remissions had been submitted as of the day of the hearing.

Council members questioned staff and the business about whether surveillance footage was provided to deputies, the nature of separate citations for licensing and security-related offenses, and what specific corrective steps management had already taken. County Administrator Brown and licensing staff clarified a procedural consequence: if the revocation was upheld, the current owner would be barred from obtaining a bar license for three years, though a different owner could apply for other business types at that location and the same owner could apply for non-bar business licenses or a different location.

Councilwoman Terracio moved to uphold the revocation; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with all present members voting yes. Attorney Wright advised the body that the decision is deemed a final decision of the county under the council’s rules.

The council did not adopt additional conditions or reopen the licenses at the meeting. With the decision finalized, the chair closed the special-call meeting.