In the late afternoon of a Wednesday in Columbus, Georgia, the life of 16-year-old Da'Marcus Faison was tragically cut short. On February 15, 2023, the young man was being dropped off at a residence on Mount Pleasant Drive when the unthinkable happened. As he exited the passenger side of a vehicle, the driver opened fire, striking Da'Marcus before speeding away from the scene.
A person from inside the house rushed out to render aid, administering CPR in a desperate attempt to save him, but his injuries were too severe. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two and a half hours later.
Da'Marcus was a student at Kendrick High School and a participant in the ROTC program, with aspirations of joining the Army after graduation. His mother, Yvette Faison, described him as a sweet, kind, and respectable young man who you would never forget after meeting. His sudden and violent death left his family, including his brothers and friends, devastated, forever changing the landscape of their lives.
For over a year, the case remained a painful, unsolved chapter for his loved ones and the community. The Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes investigators continued their work, piecing together the evidence. Then, in May 2024, a significant breakthrough occurred. Investigators identified a suspect already in custody at the Muscogee County Jail on unrelated charges.
On May 15, 2024, probable cause was established to charge 20-year-old Don'Querious King with the murder of Da'Marcus Faison. In addition to the murder charge, King also faces accusations of armed robbery and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a crime, bringing a measure of hope for justice to a family still grappling with an immeasurable loss.
