In the quiet town of Marion, South Carolina, the life of 26-year-old Steven Howard, a Black/African American male, was abruptly cut short on the evening of April 17, 2016. On Jones Avenue, a street that likely witnessed its share of everyday comings and goings, a fatal encounter left Howard with a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injury, leaving a community to grapple with the sudden violence.
The Marion Police Department, under the direction
of Chief Dewayne Tennie, launched an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts soon focused on a primary suspect: 28-year-old Geno Davon Lester of Sellers, South Carolina. The investigation progressed with the involvement of the U.S. Marshals Service, highlighting the seriousness of the search for Lester. Alongside the principal suspect, another individual, Tierra Inman, was implicated in the events following the crime.
As the investigation unfolded, charges were brought against both identified individuals. Geno Davon Lester was charged with the murder of Steven Howard, facing the gravest of accusations. Tierra Inman was charged with accessory after the fact to a felony, suggesting she had assisted Lester in some manner after the shooting occurred. Inman was subsequently arrested and held at the Marion County Detention Center, marking a significant step in the legal proceedings.
The case against Geno Davon Lester proceeded to trial, where the evidence gathered by law enforcement was presented. In a turn of events that brought a surprising conclusion to the legal chapter of this tragedy, the jury found Geno Davon Lester not guilty of the murder of Steven Howard. This verdict, confirmed by Twelfth Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements, concluded the trial but left lingering questions for the community and those who knew Steven Howard, officially leaving his death without a convicted perpetrator.
