In the quiet community of Spartanburg, South Carolina, a tragic event unfolded on February 18, 2018, forever altering the lives of one family. Eric Shane Morris, a 29-year-old male, was found deceased in a residence on Old Canaan Road. His life, full of promise, was cut short in a senseless act of violence that left the community in shock and mourning.
Born on January 20, 1989, Eric was a graduate of Dorman High School and had been a dedicated employee at Morris Heating and Air for eleven years. He was known as a cherished son to John and Linda Burnette Morris, a loving brother to Rusty Vance and Crystal Lowe, and a member of the Canaan Baptist Church.
The investigation into Eric Morris's death swiftly uncovered a grim narrative of a gathering for mechanical work that escalated into a deadly shooting spree. The perpetrator was identified as 19-year-old Brian Cornelius Foster of Spartanburg. In the course of the violent incident, another individual was also shot but managed to escape and seek help from a neighbor, providing crucial information to law enforcement. This surviving victim and other witnesses were instrumental in the rapid identification and subsequent manhunt for Foster.
Two days after the tragic event, Brian Cornelius Foster was apprehended. In an attempt to evade capture, he had discarded his clothing and was discovered hiding under a shed on Bayberry Drive. Foster's criminal history revealed prior convictions for second-degree burglary, grand larceny, and driving under the influence. The swift action of the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office brought a sense of relief to a community on edge.
In April 2019, following a three-day jury trial, justice was served for Eric Morris. Brian Cornelius Foster was found guilty on multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful possession of a weapon. The court sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the proceedings, the solicitor for the case, Barry Barnette, highlighted the tragic and unnecessary nature of the violence that led to Eric's untimely death, emphasizing how a simple gathering had devolved into a devastating loss of life.
