In the quiet community of Townville, South Carolina, the morning of September 16, 2025, was shattered by a grim discovery. Loren Mathew Morones, a 56-year-old White/Caucasian male, was found deceased at his home on Highway 24. It was his employer, arriving to pick him up for work, who stumbled upon the tragic scene and alerted authorities. Responders arrived to find Morones near a camper on his property, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The Anderson County Coroner's Office swiftly ruled his death a homicide and scheduled an autopsy to aid in the investigation.
The Anderson County Sheriff's Office secured the area, with evidence markers dotting the yard as forensic teams began the meticulous process of collecting evidence. Their investigation quickly bore fruit. By the following day, a suspect was not only identified but in custody. Investigators pinpointed 35-year-old Justin Dwain Harris as the individual responsible for Loren Morones' death. Harris and Morones were known to be acquaintances, though the specific motive for the killing was not immediately made public.
The apprehension of Harris was dramatic. He was spotted driving a stolen Chevrolet pickup truck that had been reported out of neighboring Oconee County. When a deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Harris fled, leading to a pursuit. The chase ended when Harris crashed the truck into a ditch on Fields Avenue. Along the route of the chase, a critical piece of evidence was recovered: a discarded firearm.
Following his arrest, Justin Dwain Harris was booked into the Anderson County Detention Center. He faced a string of serious charges, including murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. In addition to the charges directly related to the homicide, he was also charged with receiving stolen goods and failure to stop for blue lights. Furthermore, authorities in Oconee County added a charge of grand larceny for the stolen truck. The investigation continued, with authorities relying on the recovered weapon, witness statements, and the results of the autopsy to build their case against Harris.
