In the early morning hours of October 4, 2024, a gathering at the Boulder Creek Apartments on Furman Hall Road in Greenville County, South Carolina, took a tragic turn. Decorey Lacarl Thomason, a 31-year-old Black male from Mauldin, was enjoying a get-together when an altercation broke out. The dispute escalated, and gunfire erupted, shattering the predawn quiet. When Greenville County sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene around 3 a.m., they discovered two men suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both were rushed to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, Decorey Lacarl Thomason succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds and passed away at the hospital. The second victim was reported to be in stable condition and was expected to survive his injuries. The news of Thomason's death sent ripples of shock and grief through the local community. A 2012 graduate of Southside High School, he was remembered for his vibrant personality and his involvement in local promotions. He was a father to two sons, Khalil Burnside and Jaylan Pennie.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly. Before 9 a.m. on the same day, authorities arrested 27-year-old Jamante Quentez Edward Williams in connection with the incident. Investigators determined that Williams was present at the gathering and, during the confrontation, allegedly fired the shots that struck Thomason and the other man. Williams was taken into custody and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, commission of a violent crime while on bond, and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain crimes. He is being held at the Greenville County Detention Center.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community rallied around Thomason's family. A GoFundMe campaign was initiated to help with funeral expenses, and an outpouring of support was shown for his parents, Carl and Janice Thomason, as well as his two sisters and brother. Funeral services for Decorey Lacarl Thomason were held on October 12, 2024, at Love Story Church in Greenville, followed by his interment at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, as friends and family gathered to mourn the untimely loss of a man described as a 'Greenville legend.'
