A 37-year-old man, Laron L. Martin, lost his life after a late-night shooting in Columbia, South Carolina's Finlay Park on Saturday, May 27, 2017. The incident, which marked the first homicide in the park's nearly three-decade history, occurred around 10:15 p.m. in the upper section of the park. Reports suggest that an argument between Martin and another individual escalated, leading to the fatal shooting.
Martin sustained a gunshot wound to the torso and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Sunday morning.
In the wake of the shooting, the Columbia Police Department launched an investigation and sought public assistance in identifying two women who were present at the park shortly before the fatal encounter. Described as being in their 20s, one wearing a pink dress and the other a gray one, authorities believed these women held valuable information regarding the circumstances that led to Martin's death.
The investigation led to the arrest of 22-year-old Gene Autrey Morris Jr. According to law enforcement, Morris had been called to the park by one of two women who alleged they were being verbally harassed by Martin. It is believed Morris retrieved a pistol from his home before confronting Martin in the park. Morris, who did not possess a valid concealed weapon permit, allegedly argued with Martin before the shooting and fled the scene afterward without alerting the authorities. He was subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a pistol.
