Joseph J Feda Obituary, Death; – The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified a 71-year-old man who lost his life in a crash that ensued after two consecutive carjackings perpetrated by another driver in Richland County on Saturday.
Authorities reported that Joseph J. Feda, a resident of Irmo, succumbed at the scene after being struck by the suspect, 44-year-old Zee Zee Zelazurro, who had just carjacked two vehicles. Zelazurro collided with Feda’s truck shortly before returning to the scene and ultimately causing his death in a subsequent accident.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department indicated that at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Zelazurro first carjacked a Mazda 6 near the roundabout at Piney Woods and Piney Grove roads, compelling the driver to take him toward Broad River Road. When the driver began to resist, authorities stated that Zelazurro discharged multiple rounds within the vehicle. Fortunately, the driver was unharmed by the gunfire and managed to escape the vehicle, allowing Zelazurro to take control of it. He would soon crash into a Chevrolet Colorado occupied by Feda.
Subsequently, authorities reported that Zelazurro attempted to carjack a Dodge Durango before ultimately jumping onto the hood of another vehicle, an Audi A4, and forcing the driver to exit. Following this, authorities noted that the suspect drove the Audi back toward the original scene where Feda had exited his damaged truck and was awaiting law enforcement.
Zelazurro crashed and overturned the Audi, resulting in it striking Feda and ultimately leading to his death. A bystander informed investigators that he witnessed Zelazurro crawling out of the wreckage with a handgun, which he seized before restraining him on the ground until law enforcement arrived. A prior statement from the sheriff’s department mentioned that another adult and a juvenile were also injured in the crash, but officials have not provided updates on their conditions or their involvement in the incident.
Zelazurro was transported to a local hospital for treatment and, as of Monday afternoon, had not yet been booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. At that time, he was facing two counts each of carjacking and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
