Fugitive Arrested – Columbia Hospital employee recognizes murder suspect Nicholas Hamlett, now in custody

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) – Fugitive and alleged murder suspect Nicholas Wayne Hamlett of Tennessee has been arrested in Columbia, according to Columbia Police.

Hamlett was found and identified at a local hospital Sunday evening. He is in the temporary custody of the USMS Columbia Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Columbia PD reports that a hospital employee recognized the suspect and notified police. His identity was confirmed through a fingerprint scanner.

Arrangements are currently being made with Tennessee authorities for Hamlett's extradition to Monroe County, TN.

This was an ongoing story reported as follows on November 1st:

CHAPIN, SC (WOLO) – Chapin Police say the search for a wanted murder suspect continues this morning.

According to investigators, Nicholas Hamlett, wanted on first-degree murder charges in the killing of a man in Tennessee, was seen near Chapin High School around 12:30 p.m.

As of 8:30 a.m. this morning, police said Hamlett had not been arrested.

Officials say they have been in contact with Lexington-Richland School District 5 and will continue to do so.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Hamlett's arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Police say they will continue the search throughout the morning. According to authorities, Hamlett is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds, and has blue eyes and brown hair.

He reportedly uses multiple pseudonyms and may still be using Brandon Andrade's name. If you know where he might be, call 911.

The search has resulted in area schools maintaining secure status.

Lexington-Richland School District 5 officials released the following statement in an email to parents and on social media, saying in part: “At this time, all School District 5 schools are operating on a normal schedule.”

They continued: “There is an increased police presence in our Chapin area schools. Chapin Families was notified at 7:22 a.m. this morning that school officials were in contact with local law enforcement and monitoring the situation. Please be assured that if a school decides that it should place its operations into lockdown status, it will do so immediately.”

According to district officials as of 9:13 a.m., the only Chapin-area schools currently in a modified safety status (no outdoor activities, but students and parents can still exit and enter the building) are Chapin Elementary Eaglets and Chapin Intermediate School and Chapin high school.

They remain under this status until law enforcement notifies the county that the suspect has been arrested or the area is safe.