Columbia Police Investigators have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the deadly Laurel Street weekend shooting.
Gene Autry Morris, Junior is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Pistol. Morris, who was initially a person of interest in the case, was arrested late this afternoon after an extensive interview process.
Preliminary information led CPD investigators to broadcast a bulletin with information about the crime and suspect’s vehicle internally and to surrounding law enforcement agencies.
A CPD patrol officer found Morris at a Bentley Court apartment overnight along with the vehicle believed to have been used by him to flee the crime scene.
Morris is accused of getting into an argument with the victim who has been identified by Richland County Coroner Gary Watts as 37-year-old Laron Martin. The victim was reportedly verbally harassing two females in the park prior to the shooting.
Investigators believe that Morris was called by one of the females to come to the location. After the phone call and before Morris went to the park, he’s accused of going to his residence to get a firearm. Morris then willingly brought the firearm to the park without a valid concealed weapons permit.
The suspect allegedly left the scene after the shooting and did not call police to report the incident.
Investigators continue to interview additional witnesses and will remain in consultation with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office regarding possible additional charges in the case.
