3 Charged in Irmo Burglary of Home Occupied by Teen

Three people are facing multiple charges including assault and battery with the intent to kill after they allegedly broke into an Irmo home Thursday. 

Irmo Police arrested Antoine Woodlin, 26, of 117 Scioto Drive; Dan Demetri Ford, 20, of 1320 Piney Grove Road; and Precious Gadson, 17, of 117 Scioto Drive, in connection with a burglary of a home in the Archers Court neighborhood.

All three are charged with first-degree burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping, assault and battery with the intent to kill, use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime and grand larceny. 

Woodlin is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm.

Around 1 p.m., the three suspects entered the Archers Court home where a 13-year-old boy was inside alone, home sick from school, police said.

The teen called his mother when he heard noises outside of the residence, and was on the phone with her when they entered the house, Chief Brian Buck said.

The mother called 911 when the phone call with her son was disconnected.

Police said the suspects threatened the teen with a pistol and forced him to hide his face in a pillow. 

Buck said officers arrived on the scene within moments of the emergency call and were able to arrest Gadson as she fled the house in a Red Mercury Mountaineer. 

With aid from both sheriff's departments in Richland and Lexington counties, and the State Law Enforcement Division, a search of the home and area for the other two suspects was conducted.

Ford and Woodlin were later arrested by deputies as they walked out of the woods near Top Knoll Court in the Archers Court neighborhood.

“All of the agencies worked hard and we were able to very quickly apprehend these suspects," Buck said in a release. "The real hero of this unfortunate incident is the 13-year-old victim."

"He remained very calm during unbelievably stressful conditions. I am extremely proud of this young man.” 

The teen was not physically harmed during the incident.

All three suspects are being held at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.