In the early morning hours of April 8, 2017, a tragic event unfolded in Columbia, South Carolina, that would cut short the life of 43-year-old Marlon Butler. A male, Butler and his teenage son were returning to their home on Candwenn Court when they were confronted with a startling scene: their front door had been forcibly kicked in. Unbeknownst to them, the intruder was still inside.
As they cautiously made their way through their violated home, assessing what had been taken, they were
suddenly met by the burglar. The situation escalated rapidly when the intruder, later identified as Bouvia Sales, 23, began shooting. Butler was fatally wounded in the attack. In a desperate attempt to get help, his son fled the house, and Sales reportedly continued to fire at the young man as he ran.
The Columbia Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led them to Bouvia Sales. A crucial piece of evidence linking Sales to the crime was DNA found at the scene. Additionally, investigators learned that Sales had confessed his involvement in the killing to at least three other individuals.
In June 2017, Bouvia Sales was arrested and faced a series of serious charges for his alleged role in the incident. These charges included murder, attempted murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a firearm during a violent crime, bringing a measure of resolution to a family shattered by a senseless act of violence during a home invasion.
