In the early morning hours of May 21, 2016, the body of 34-year-old Marcus Mandrell Posey was discovered on the side of the road in the 1100 block of Blue Ridge Terrace in Columbia, South Carolina. An autopsy would later confirm that the Columbia resident had died from a gunshot wound to his upper body. The Richland County Sheriff's Department launched an investigation into his death, which was quickly deemed a homicide.
Posey, described by his family as a courageous and responsible man,
was walking home from his job at a restaurant at the time of his death. His routine often involved taking a bus part of the way and then walking the remaining distance, a journey of about a mile through his neighborhood. He was less than 500 yards from his home when he was fatally shot. Investigators determined that Posey had been shot twice.
In the weeks following the shooting, Posey's family made emotional public pleas for information that could lead to the arrest of his killer or killers. His sister, Kimberly Posey, expressed her belief that people in the community had knowledge about the incident but were not coming forward. The family remembered Marcus as the youngest of his siblings and a dedicated worker.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department released images of two persons of interest who they believed Posey may have encountered at a downtown bus station before he was killed. Investigators were able to identify and speak with one of these individuals. They also reviewed video footage that they hoped would provide more clues. Despite these efforts, the investigation did not immediately lead to an arrest. Authorities stated that there was no indication that the killing was related to gang activity or drugs.
A year after his death, in May 2017, the case remained unsolved, and Posey's family once again appealed to the public for help. Investigators revealed they were looking for an older model, two-toned car with a discolored fender that may have been involved in the incident. They believed there could be one or two suspects. As of late 2025, there have been no publicly announced arrests or significant updates in the homicide investigation of Marcus Posey.
