In the autumn of 2018, the life of a young Black/African American man, Desmond Alonzo Jacori Bates, was tragically cut short at the age of 22. On the evening of October 6th, at approximately 9:30 p.m., events unfolded at the Lake Shore apartments on Garners Ferry Road in Columbia, South Carolina, that would end in his untimely death. Bates was confronted by an assailant in what investigators have described as an attempted armed robbery.
During the course of the robbery attempt, Bates
reportedly fought back against his attacker. In an effort to escape the perilous situation, he turned and ran from the scene. It was then that a fatal gunshot was fired, striking him in the chest. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the apartment complex and quickly transported him to Palmetto Health Richland Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Desmond Bates succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10:07 p.m.
The Columbia Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led to a swift arrest in the days following the shooting. On the morning of October 8th, officers took a 17-year-old male, Kweli Akeem Goree, into custody. Goree was subsequently charged with murder, attempted armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the death of Desmond Bates. At the time of his arrest, police indicated that the investigation was ongoing and that additional arrests were possible.
