In the early morning hours of August 2, 2025, the life of 50-year-old Edward E. Willis, a male resident of Columbia, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. Emergency medical services personnel made the grim discovery, finding Mr. Willis deceased inside a home located on the 5500 block of Randall Avenue. It was immediately apparent that his death was not from natural causes, and law enforcement was promptly notified.
Investigators from the Columbia Police Department determined that Mr.
Willis had been fatally shot. As the investigation unfolded, it was believed that the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather an isolated incident between individuals who were acquainted with each other. The motive behind the deadly encounter remains under investigation as authorities work to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
On the same day that Mr. Willis's body was found, the Columbia Police Department made a swift arrest in connection with his death. Marion Oates, Jr., a 42-year-old, was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Following his arrest, Oates was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center as he awaits legal proceedings.
