In the early morning hours of a Saturday in May 2016, the life of 21-year-old Jason Adon of Fort Mill, SC, was tragically cut short. Police found the young man deceased from gunshot wounds outside an apartment unit on Workman Street in Rock Hill. The incident, which occurred around 4 a.m., marked the second homicide in the city that year.
Initially, law enforcement had no suspects and appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest in the shooting death of Adon.
Their investigation progressed, and later that month, authorities announced the arrest of 23-year-old Marquise Anton Cole of York. Cole was taken into custody and booked at the Rock Hill Detention Center. He faced serious charges, including murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a stolen pistol.
Ultimately, Marquise Cole, then 24, accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and weapons charges in connection with Jason Adon's death. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that both men were involved in drug-related activities at the time of the fatal shooting. Cole claimed he shot Adon, who was armed, because he feared Adon was going to shoot him first. Adon had reportedly been the victim of a prior robbery and was described as acting irrationally. Cole, a husband and father of two who worked as a stonemason, expressed remorse in court, stating, 'I can't bring Jason back... I want to tell his family and friends I am truly sorry.' As a result of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
