A 22-year-old University of North Carolina student reportedly broke into a friend’s home in South Carolina over the weekend and shot her in the chest after allegedly stealing several credit cards. The Columbia Police Chief, Skip Holbrook, referred to the incident as a “random” act of violence and characterized the suspect, 30-year-old Alexander Dickie, as a “career criminal” during a press conference on Monday.
Logan Federico, who was hoping to become a teacher, visited Columbia, South Carolina, staying overnight at a friend’s home on Cypress Street from May 2nd to May 3rd. On that Saturday, Dickie drove a stolen car to the neighborhood, parked it on Cypress Street, and is believed to have broken into one house where he stole keys to another vehicle and several firearms. He then entered the home where Federico was staying, according to police.
Inside, Dickie allegedly took multiple credit cards before the tragic event unfolded. Holbrook emphasized that Federico was “the real victim” in this case.
Authorities responded around 11 a.m. on May 3rd and found Federico had succumbed to a gunshot wound. The following day, Dickie used a stolen credit card in West Columbia, and he even called a tow truck to have the stolen vehicle brought to Gaston, South Carolina.
Law enforcement began monitoring Dickie, and on May 3rd, when they arrived at Gaston’s residence, he reportedly fled. By the afternoon of May 4th, residents in Gaston noticed a man, later identified as Dickie, emerging from the woods, who then stole a car and drove to a residence in the area. Authorities surrounded that location and took him into custody.
Federico’s father, Stephen Federico, spoke about his daughter during a press conference, remembering her as a dedicated individual who worked two jobs while pursuing her teaching degree. He described her as a passionate person, saying she was a huge fan of Taylor Swift and adored children.
Authorities have charged Dickie with multiple crimes, including two counts of murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, and other serious offenses. Holbrook condemned Dickie, stating, “He’s a criminal, and he deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life.”
Court records indicate that Dickie has a long history of criminal activities dating back to 2013, involving various offenses from theft to armed robbery.
The Columbia Police Department extended their condolences to Federico’s family and expressed their commitment to pursuing justice alongside the community. They acknowledged the vital collaborative efforts of different agencies in identifying and apprehending the suspect.
