In the quiet town of Clinton, South Carolina, a late-Tuesday night was shattered by the sound of multiple gunshots on Florence Street, leading to the tragic death of 69-year-old Rufford Jones. The incident unfolded around 11:17 p.m., prompting a swift response from the Clinton Police Department. Upon their arrival at 304 Florence Street, officers discovered Jones lying in the roadway with serious gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services were immediately dispatched to the scene, and
first responders provided aid to Jones before he was transported to Prisma Health Laurens County Hospital. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. The Laurens County Coroner's Office later confirmed that Rufford Jones died from multiple gunshot wounds.
At the scene of the shooting, authorities quickly detained a suspect, 34-year-old Vincent Marc Viner. Viner was subsequently arrested and has been charged with murder, breach of peace of an aggravated nature, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He is currently being held at the Johnson Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has been called in to assist the Clinton Police Department with the ongoing investigation into the crime scene. Authorities have stated that they believe the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. The death of Rufford Jones, described by friends as a kind man who brought joy to their lives, has left the Clinton community in a state of shock and mourning.
