Columbia man sentenced to decades in prison following 2022 murder
Following a nine-day trial, a Columbia man is headed to prison for more than five decades after a jury last Wednesday found him guilty of murder and attempted murder. On Jan. 14, Lexington County Judge Debra McCaslin sentenced Chendric J. Brown, 27, to 54 years in prison for the shooting death of Harold L. Peak III, 22, according to a news release from the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Brown’s conviction stems from a shooting incident Sept. 24, 2022 in the Princeton Road area of Lexington County, where prosecutors said he ambushed Peak as Peak and another man were leaving a residence in a red Kia Soul.
Peak was fatally struck by a 7.62 assault rifle, wielded by Brown, while the driver of the Kia was injured, but survived, according to the release.
The case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes.
“We appreciate the commitment of Sheriff Jay Koon and the entire Sheriff’s Department in their investigation of this case,” Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard said in the release. “This was a premeditated act of violence – carried out with a complete disregard for human life. Our office remains committed in our mission to protect our community from violent crimes.”
Brown was represented by Dayne Phillips, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The State.
When Brown fired at Peak, whom he’d expressed anger towards, he also struck a residence across the street on Princeton Road while residents were inside, the release said.
It would be nearly two years later before Brown would be arrested on June 6, 2024, following an investigation by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Brown, who drove a white Lexus NX, was captured on video surveillance leaving the area of the shooting at 11:47 p.m., less than five minutes after gunshots were heard in the area, according to the release. A witness would later identify him as the driver of the Lexus.
Evidence presented at trial included multiple texts messages from Brown, seeking Peek’s location on the night of the shooting, according to the release. His cell phone also contained a video and photographs of him in possession of a 7.62 assault rifle, the release said.
Brown has been transported to the S.C. Department of Corrections where his sentence will immediately commence.
