In the early afternoon of November 6, 2024, a burst of violence on Amelia Avenue in Rock Hill, South Carolina, claimed the life of 31-year-old Lawrence Howard. A Black / African American male, Howard was sitting in a vehicle with a female companion when an assailant approached and opened fire into the car. Howard was struck multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman with him suffered gunshot wounds to her head and hand and was transported to Piedmont Medical Center for her injuries.
The investigation by the Rock Hill Police Department quickly pointed to a motive rooted in an illegal narcotics sale that had gone wrong. Detectives worked the case for several days, leading them to identify a suspect in the fatal shooting. The area, a residential neighborhood near Richmond Drive Elementary School, was shaken by the brazen daylight attack that law enforcement officials characterized as a drug-related homicide.
On November 11, 2024, authorities apprehended 35-year-old Melvin Robinson in connection with the killing. Initially, Robinson was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As the investigation progressed, the charges against him were upgraded significantly. He was subsequently charged with murder for the death of Lawrence Howard, attempted murder for the injuries sustained by the female victim, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Robinson was taken into custody and booked into the York County jail, held without bail.
