In the fading light of a late December evening in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a life was tragically cut short. On December 27, 2019, police responded to a call of a shooting in the 1100 block of Calhoun Street. There, in the yard of a home, they found 39-year-old Robert Lee Dockery Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Rock Hill Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division quickly began working the
case. Their investigation led them to identify a suspect, 26-year-old Montrece Kennedy. As the community reeled from the violent act that had taken place just after Christmas, the search for Kennedy began. The investigation continued for several days as authorities sought to bring the person responsible for Dockery's death to justice.
A break in the case came on January 3, 2020, when Montrece Kennedy turned himself in to the police. He was subsequently charged with Murder and Possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Following his arrest, a judge denied Kennedy bond, ensuring he would remain in custody as the legal process moved forward. While an arrest was made, the motive for the shooting was not immediately released to the public. The investigation was described as active and ongoing.
