In a tragic turn of events on a Saturday afternoon, 18-year-old KeMari SamarTrey Ford of Lexington, South Carolina, lost his life. On April 4, 2026, shortly before 1:00 p.m., deputies were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 3500 block of Fernandina Road in the Columbia area of Lexington County following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Ford outside the apartment complex with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.
Despite the life-saving measures attempted by the deputies, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a person of interest. Witnesses at the scene informed detectives that the shooting was preceded by an argument between Ford and another man. Based on these accounts, authorities identified 23-year-old Latif Shi'Yon Elijah Ross, a Columbia resident, as the suspect. Ross had fled the scene after the incident.
The day after the fatal shooting, on Sunday morning, deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department arrested Latif Shi'Yon Elijah Ross. He has been charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a weapon by a person prohibited. Following his arrest, Ross was denied bond and is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center. While an arrest has been made, the investigation into the death of KeMari Ford continues. The specific details of what led to the argument between the two men have not been released to the public.
