In the early hours of a Monday in Batesburg, South Carolina, an argument escalated into a fatal encounter that ended the life of 33-year-old Eric Wade Maroney. On October 7, 2019, Maroney was shot in the upper body at a residence on Promenade Road. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical attention, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he succumbed to them shortly after arrival.
The male victim was a resident of Batesburg, and his sudden death left his family and community in mourning.
The Lexington County Sheriff's Department immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. Based on witness accounts, investigators identified 65-year-old Donald Wayne Storey as the individual who shot Maroney during the dispute. Later that same evening, the Fugitive Task Force located and apprehended Storey at a different location without incident. Multiple shell casings were collected from the scene of the shooting, further implicating Storey in the crime.
Following his arrest, Donald Wayne Storey was charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony. He was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center, where he was held without bond. However, the legal proceedings against Storey would not reach a trial. On October 9, 2020, just over a year after the shooting, Donald Wayne Storey passed away while still in custody. His death brought an unexpected conclusion to the criminal case, leaving the full details of what transpired on that fatal morning to remain with those who were present.
