In the small community of Ridgeland, South Carolina, a dispute between brothers escalated into a tragedy that ended a life and irrevocably changed a family. Maurice Lamar Wright, a 36-year-old man, was shot and killed on October 1, 2014, following a heated argument with his own brother. A lifelong resident of Ridgeland, Maurice was known for his love of basketball and his devotion to his children.
The fatal encounter took place outside a home on Captain Bill Road, where Maurice and his
brother, Nathaniel Wright, were embroiled in a dispute over money. The argument intensified, culminating in Nathaniel fatally shooting Maurice. Witnesses, including family and friends, were present at the scene of the shooting. According to the assistant solicitor, Nathaniel felt disrespected by his brother, looked him in the eye and said, 'You're going to die,' before shooting him eight times, with the final two shots fired while Maurice was on the ground.
Following the shooting, Nathaniel Wright fled the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement after a brief police chase. Upon his arrest, he reportedly told a deputy, 'I'm not going to let disrespect me.' Nathaniel Wright was subsequently charged in connection with the death of his brother.
After a trial where the jury deliberated for nearly three hours, Nathaniel Wright, then 32, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and failure to stop for a blue light. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the killing of his brother, Maurice Wright. The conviction for voluntary manslaughter is not eligible for parole, meaning he will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.
