In the winter of 2018, a disagreement during a card game in Roebuck, South Carolina, escalated into a fatal shooting, claiming the life of 37-year-old Jamel Martel Ross. On the evening of December 27th, what began as a gathering for a poker game ended in tragedy over a disputed $50 pot.
The man responsible for the shooting, Andre N. Lyles, who was 52 at the time, initially attempted to portray the killing as an act of self-defense.
Lyles, who sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand during the incident, contacted 911 himself. However, upon investigation, law enforcement officials determined that his account was not credible, largely due to the fact that Ross had been shot in the back. This finding led to Lyles's arrest and he was subsequently charged with murder and weapon possession.
In July 2021, the legal proceedings against Andre Lyles concluded with a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. A judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the death of Jamel Martel Ross. As part of his sentence, Lyles is required to serve a significant portion of his term before becoming eligible for release.
