In the small town of Blackville, South Carolina, a community was shaken by the violent and untimely death of 60-year-old Ashwinbhai Patel. A beloved local business owner, Mr. Patel, a male, was known affectionately as 'Andy' by his customers and was respected for the care he showed them at his Corner Stop 10 Convenience Store. His life was tragically cut short on the morning of September 8, 2020, during what began as a robbery.
Two young men, Jason Jarmez Smith, 23, and Shemar McKay Donaldson, 19, entered the store with the intent to rob it.
The situation escalated quickly when Smith, brandishing a firearm, demanded money. In a brief struggle, Mr. Patel attempted to push the gun away, but it discharged, inflicting a fatal wound. While Mr. Patel lay dying, Donaldson proceeded to search for cash. A customer who was present in the store at the time of the incident immediately called 911 to report the armed robbery. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division was called in to investigate the homicide at the request of the Blackville Police Department.
Investigators utilized video surveillance and phone records which linked Smith and Donaldson to the crime. During questioning, both suspects provided inconsistent and misleading statements in an attempt to conceal their involvement. However, the evidence against them was substantial, leading to their arrests. Smith was charged with murder, armed robbery, and possession of a weapon, while Donaldson faced charges of murder and armed robbery. Following his arrest, Smith confessed to SLED agents that he was the individual who had entered the store with his face covered.
In April 2022, Jason Jarmez Smith pleaded guilty to murder and attempted armed robbery. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder, with a concurrent 10-year sentence for the attempted armed robbery. Under the terms of his sentence, he is not eligible for parole. Following Smith's conviction, prosecutors prepared to proceed with the case against his co-defendant, Shemar McKay Donaldson, who was also charged in connection with the robbery and murder of Ashwinbhai Patel.
