In the city of Greenville, South Carolina, a life was tragically cut short in the fall of 2021. Demarcus Anerio Martin, a 28-year-old Black male who also identified as a transgender woman named Marquiisha Lawrence, was found deceased in his home on Loop Street on November 5th. The cause of his death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, leading the Greenville County Coroner's Office to rule his death a homicide.
Family members made the devastating discovery after what authorities believe was an altercation with at least one other person.
The investigation into Martin's death quickly led law enforcement to a suspect. Dacorey Dashawn Massey, a 17-year-old at the time, was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and grand larceny. Investigators believe that Massey was an acquaintance of Martin's. It is alleged that an altercation between the two escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting. Following the incident, Massey reportedly stole Martin's vehicle, which was later recovered by the authorities.
Massey was taken into custody by the Fugitive Apprehension Specialized Investigation Team with assistance from the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office. He was held at the juvenile section of the Greenville County Detention Center. While the initial steps of the justice process were set in motion with Massey's arrest and the filing of charges, the final outcome of the case, including details of a trial or conviction, have not been publicly reported. The motive behind the tragic altercation also remains under investigation, leaving a community to mourn a life lost to violence and to await the full resolution of the case.
