In the winter of 2019, a burst of violence shattered the quiet of a Spartanburg County neighborhood, leaving a family grieving and a community in search of answers. On the evening of January 28th, 34-year-old Marcus Pierre Kirk was inside his home on Thomas Road when a car carrying four individuals slowly passed by. Multiple gunshots were fired from the vehicle, with at least one bullet fatally striking Kirk.
Investigators later determined from shell casings found at the scene that at least two different weapons were used in the drive-by shooting. Two other people were inside the residence with Kirk at the time of the shooting, but they were not injured. The motive behind the deadly assault was later identified by law enforcement as a dispute involving illegal drugs.
The investigation into the death of Marcus Pierre Kirk led to the identification and arrest of four suspects. Authorities determined that Matthew Blackwell, 27, of Clifton, fired the shot that killed Kirk. In August of 2021, Blackwell pleaded guilty for his role in the murder and was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Another man in the car, Bobby Hank Wright, 32, of Cowpens, also faced justice for his involvement. He pleaded guilty in February 2022 and received a 25-year prison sentence.
A third accomplice, Tyler R. Bright, 26, of Piedmont, was also held accountable for his part in the fatal shooting. In September 2022, Bright pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the requirement to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for release. At the time of Bright's sentencing, charges were still pending against the fourth individual believed to have been in the car on the night of the murder.
