In the early hours of a Saturday morning, the life of a young Columbia man was tragically cut short by gunfire. Marquicas D. Taylor, a 23-year-old Black man, was fatally shot on May 25, 2024, at the Colony Apartments in Columbia, South Carolina. Authorities believe the shooting was the result of an argument.
The incident unfolded shortly before 1:30 a.m. in the 6400 block of Bailey Street. The Columbia Police Department was alerted to the sound of gunfire by a ShotSpotter notification.
When officers arrived at the apartment complex, they found evidence of a shooting but no victim. They soon learned that an acquaintance had already transported Taylor to a local hospital. A short time later, he was pronounced deceased from his injuries. The Richland County Coroner’s Office subsequently confirmed his identity.
Investigators with the Columbia Police Department worked quickly to identify a suspect. They determined that an argument had preceded the deadly shooting and identified 20-year-old Markus Geavontay Brown as the person responsible. On Wednesday, May 29, just four days after the shooting, Brown was located and arrested. The arrest was made in the 1500 block of Bailey Street with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Following his arrest, Markus Geavontay Brown was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. He was initially charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The case was later resolved when Brown pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced for his role in the death of Marquicas Taylor, bringing the legal proceedings to a close.
