In the late hours of a Thursday evening in Columbia, South Carolina, the life of 21-year-old Shantarius Ontario Thompson was tragically cut short. On May 20, 2021, Thompson arrived at a residence on Kathleen Drive with a sense of unease, telling those present that he believed he was being followed. Shortly after his arrival, at approximately 11 p.m., a vehicle drove past the home, and gunfire erupted. Thompson was struck in the upper body.
Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
The investigation into the shooting, led by the Richland County Sheriff's Department, soon pointed towards a domestic dispute as the motive behind the violent act. Less than a month later, on June 13, 2021, authorities announced the arrests of two individuals in connection with Thompson's death. Naia Lawson, 20, and Dorian Gossette, 18, were taken into custody without incident.
Both Lawson and Gossette were charged with murder. Gossette faced an additional charge for possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Following their arrests, they were both booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a domestic situation involving Thompson and Lawson.
