In the late afternoon of May 31, 2018, tragedy struck in Columbia, South Carolina, forever altering the lives of one family. Markese Jones, a 26-year-old Black or African American male known affectionately as 'RED,' was on the 1700 block of Carolina Road when the sound of gunshots pierced the air. Richland County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call of shots fired at approximately 4:40 p.m. and discovered Jones with a gunshot wound to his lower body.
He was quickly transported to Palmetto Health Richland Memorial Hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injury about an hour later.
The investigation into the shooting led to a swift arrest. At the scene, deputies detained 61-year-old Jerry Lewis Richardson of Columbia. Following an investigation by the Richland County Sheriff's Department, Richardson was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was subsequently booked into the Richland County Detention Center.
Markese Jones, born on June 30, 1991, was remembered by those who knew him as a loyal and funny individual who was easy to get along with. He enjoyed listening to music and spending time with his family. His obituary mentions his mother, Tonya Jones, and his two sons, Shel'jon Jones and Maruiel Patterson, as among those left to cherish his memory.
