On a summer evening in Lancaster, South Carolina, the life of 21-year-old Rakeem Ta'Quion Patterson was tragically cut short. On June 29, 2017, Patterson was with his close friend, 22-year-old Markevis Foster, and another individual at the Palmetto Place Apartments. The friends were reportedly outside playing cards when a vehicle, later identified as a Subaru, entered the apartment complex parking lot.
Without warning, gunfire erupted from the car in a drive-by shooting that shattered
the evening's peace. Patterson was fatally wounded and pronounced dead at the scene. In a devastating turn of events, Foster was also shot and critically injured as he reportedly tried to help his friend. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. A third person was also shot but sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear to investigators, and it was not officially classified as a gang-related incident.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led to a person of interest. The following morning, 36-year-old Courtney Javon McCain turned himself in to the Lancaster Police Department. Authorities believe McCain was the driver of the Subaru involved in the shooting. He was subsequently charged with accessory after the fact of murder. Family members of the victims were familiar with McCain but were unaware of any conflict that would lead to such violence.
Further investigation led to a second arrest just over a week later. On July 7, 2017, 24-year-old Demarcus Javontia Marsh was taken into custody by the State Law Enforcement Division. Marsh faced more severe charges, including two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Authorities identified him as the suspected shooter in the incident that claimed the lives of Rakeem Patterson and Markevis Foster.
