A 22-year-old student from the University of North Carolina has been accused of breaking into a friend’s house in South Carolina over the weekend and fatally shooting her in the chest after stealing several credit cards.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook called the incident “random” and labeled the suspect, 30-year-old Alexander Dickie, a “career criminal” during a press briefing on Monday.
Logan Federico, who was aspiring to be a teacher and lived in Waxhaw, North Carolina, was visiting a friend in Columbia and had been staying at a home on Cypress Street from the evening of May 2 until the morning of May 3.
Earlier that Saturday, Dickie had driven a stolen vehicle to the neighborhood, parking it on Cypress Street.
It’s reported that he broke into one house, taking the keys to another vehicle along with some firearms.
Then, he allegedly entered the home where Federico was staying and stole several credit cards.
Holbrook referred to Federico as “the real victim.”
Authorities responded to the scene around 11 a.m. where Federico was pronounced dead due to a gunshot wound.
The following day, Dickie was seen using a stolen credit card in West Columbia, and his stolen vehicle was spotted in Salda County. He allegedly even called a tow truck to move the stolen car to a residence in Gaston.
Law enforcement began tracking him down and responded to the Gaston residence on May 3.
When they arrived, he reportedly fled, prompting a search that continued throughout Saturday.
By 4 p.m. on May 4, residents in Gaston reported seeing a man, later identified as Dickie, come out of the woods and steal a car. He drove to another location in Gaston.
Authorities surrounded that residence and managed to arrest him.
Stephen Federico, Logan’s father, shared his memories of his daughter at a press event.
He highlighted that she was working two jobs while studying to become a teacher at the time of her death.
“I took good care of her. She was a strong, fun, loving individual who was passionate about what she wanted to achieve. She adored children of all ages,” he said.
Reports indicate that Dickie faces multiple charges including two counts of murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, among others.
Chief Holbrook was straightforward in his assessment of Dickie, stating, “He’s a criminal.”
According to court records, Dickie has been involved in around 40 criminal cases since 2013.
He has been convicted of various charges, including robbery, grand larceny, possession of stolen vehicles, and resisting arrest, which recently landed him a 30-day jail sentence.
In a statement, the Columbia police expressed their condolences to Federico’s family and friends, acknowledging the profound impact of her loss. They emphasized their commitment to pursuing justice and supporting Logan’s family through this difficult time.
