In the early hours of January 31, 2018, the life of 27-year-old Malcolm Cruz Jones was cut short in a fatal shooting at a residence on Blackville Road in Gaston, South Carolina. The male victim was discovered with a gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 1 a.m. The Lexington County Sheriff's Department began an investigation, quickly determining that the shooting was not a random act of violence.
The investigation revealed that the incident stemmed from an
altercation connected to the illegal narcotics trade. The man responsible for the shooting was identified as Eddie Louis Bass III, who was an acquaintance of Jones for several months prior to the deadly encounter. On the night of the incident, Bass arrived at the residence and initiated a confrontation with Jones. During the dispute, Bass, who was armed with a Bersa Thunder 380 handgun, assaulted Jones, causing blunt force injuries before fatally shooting him. Bass then fled the scene.
A manhunt for the suspect concluded on February 14, 2018, when Eddie Louis Bass III, then 30 years old, was apprehended by the Lexington County Sheriff's Department with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. The firearm used in the homicide was never recovered. Bass was charged with voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Ultimately, Eddie Louis Bass III pled guilty to the charges. During the sentencing hearing, the mother of Malcolm Cruz Jones and other family members spoke of the profound loss their family and his three young children experienced. A circuit court judge sentenced Bass to 28 years in prison. Under South Carolina law, this is a 'no parole' offense, requiring him to serve the entirety of his sentence. Following the sentencing, Bass was transferred to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin his prison term.
