In the quiet community of Cross, South Carolina, the afternoon of January 20, 2025, was shattered by a tragic act of violence that claimed the lives of three individuals. Among them was Marsena Moore, a 55-year-old African American woman from the nearby city of Summerville. Her life, along with the lives of 56-year-old Thomas Williams of Ridgeville and 46-year-old Torrionda Taylor of Cross, was cut short by fatal gunshot wounds inside a residence on Poplar Hill Drive.
The discovery was
made after the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office received a call about a shooting at approximately 2:30 p.m. Responding deputies arrived to a grim scene where they found Moore, Williams, and Taylor deceased. The incident was immediately investigated as a triple homicide, with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office and the county coroner's office leading the inquiry. Autopsies were scheduled for all three victims to formally determine the cause of death.
In the days following the harrowing discovery, the investigation progressed, leading to a significant development. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 67-year-old Leroy Alexander Witherspoon in connection with the killings. He was charged with three counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
While an arrest has been made, the motive behind this devastating act of violence has not been publicly disclosed. The case against Leroy Alexander Witherspoon is proceeding through the legal system. As the community grieves the loss of Marsena Moore, Thomas Williams, and Torrionda Taylor, the pursuit of justice continues.
