In the winter of 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the evening quiet in a Columbia, South Carolina neighborhood, leaving three young men dead in its wake. Among them was Raekwon Dominique Malone, a 25-year-old Black man. The tragic events unfolded on Sunday, January 10, 2021, when deputies from the Richland County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the 700 block of Zimalcrest Drive shortly before 6:00 p.m.
in response to a shooting.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered a grim scene with three men suffering from gunshot wounds. Two of the men were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, this third individual, later identified as Raekwon Dominique Malone, succumbed to his injuries the following day, January 11, 2021. The other two victims were identified as Jaquan Boatwright of Orangeburg and Khorrey Jones of Columbia.
As the investigation into the triple homicide progressed, details emerged painting a picture of a prearranged meeting that spiraled into violence. Investigators with the Richland County Sheriff's Department determined that the deadly encounter was the result of an attempted robbery during a drug transaction. It was concluded that all three men, including Malone, were involved in the altercation which escalated to an exchange of gunfire.
In a surprising turn for a case with such a high body count, the Richland County Sheriff's Department announced that no charges would be filed in connection with the deaths of Raekwon Dominique Malone, Jaquan Boatwright, and Khorrey Jones. The investigation concluded that since all three deceased individuals were participants in the felonious act that led to their deaths, there were no outstanding suspects to be sought. The case was subsequently closed, leaving the community to grapple with the violent loss of three young lives.
