In the early morning hours of November 27, 2021, the life of Jimmy 'J' Ferney Johnson Jr., a 46-year-old White/Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in Lexington, South Carolina. Johnson was discovered shot outside of his residence on Mac Circle. At the same time that Johnson was shot, a camper located near his home was engulfed in flames.
Initially, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department had very little information to proceed with in their investigation.
Detectives from the major crimes unit canvassed the neighborhood, interviewing residents and processing the scene for any potential evidence that might shed light on what had transpired. Sheriff Jay Koon made a public plea for assistance, emphasizing the crucial role that community tips could play in resolving the case.
Heeding the call for help, members of the community came forward with information that proved instrumental in breaking the case open. These tips led investigators to identify Mark Anthony Festus Scheibler, a 46-year-old from West Columbia, as a suspect. Based on the evidence they had collected and interviews conducted with various witnesses, detectives accused Scheibler of fatally shooting Johnson and intentionally setting fire to his camper.
At the time he was identified as the suspect in Johnson's murder, Scheibler was already incarcerated in Richland County on unrelated charges. He subsequently faced charges for murder, arson, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in connection with the death of Jimmy Ferney Johnson.
