On a rural gravel road in Pineville, South Carolina, a tragic story unfolded on January 20, 2020, ending the life of 23-year-old Martice Green. Green, along with two of his friends, Desmond Williams, 22, and Malik Gibbs, 19, were discovered shot to death inside a car that had veered off the road into a field. Authorities were initially alerted to the scene by a call about a disabled vehicle.
Upon their arrival, they made the grim discovery of the three men, all of whom appeared to have been fatally shot.
The investigation into the triple homicide led law enforcement to a man who the victims considered a friend. JayQuan Tyheim Washington was identified as a passenger in the vehicle, which was being driven by Gibbs. After spending a considerable amount of time with Green and the other victims in the car, Washington waited for what prosecutors would later describe as the 'perfect moment' to carry out his plan. While the car was in motion on a remote stretch of road, Washington first shot and killed Green and Williams.
Following the initial shots, the vehicle left the roadway and came to a stop in the field. At this point, Malik Gibbs attempted to flee for his life, but Washington pursued him and shot him three times. In a final, chilling act, Washington moved Gibbs' body back into the car with his other two deceased friends before walking away from the scene. It was later revealed that Washington sent a message to a fellow gang member that read 'Doa' shortly after the killings. While a definitive motive was not made public, prosecutors indicated that Washington was a gang member involved in gang-related activities.
Just four days after the murders, on January 24, 2020, JayQuan Tyheim Washington was arrested in connection with the deaths of Martice Green, Desmond Williams, and Malik Gibbs. He was subsequently charged with three counts of murder and three counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. In May 2025, a Berkeley County jury found Washington guilty on all charges. Following the verdict, a judge sentenced him to life in prison, ensuring he would be held accountable for the calculated and tragic execution of his three supposed friends.
