Teen killed in Lexington County shooting is identified by SC coroner
A day after a man was shot and killed in South Carolina another man was charged with murder, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Ke’Mari Samar’Trey Ford, an 18-year-old Lexington resident, is the person who was shot multiple times in the upper body and died at the scene, Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher said Monday night.
On Sunday, 23-year-old Columbia resident Latif Shi’Yon Elijah Ross was arrested, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. In addition to murder, Ross also was charged with possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a weapon by a person prohibited, according to the release.
The charges stem from a Saturday shooting in the 3500 block of Fernandina Road, the sheriff’s department said. That’s an apartment complex which is on the opposite side of I-26 from the Jamil Shrine Temple in a part of Columbia that’s inside Lexington County.
“Deputies were dispatched to an apartment complex off Fernandina Road right before 1 p.m. (Saturday),” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release. “They found a man with multiple gunshot wounds.”
Ford was discovered outside the apartment complex, Fisher said.
Deputies attempted lifesaving measures, but EMS declared the victim was dead, according to the sheriff’s department.
No other injuries were reported.
On Saturday, the sheriff’s department said that deputies had identified a person of interest.
“After speaking with witnesses, detectives determined Ross was arguing with the victim before shooting him,” Koon said. “Ross then left the scene and was arrested by deputies Sunday morning.”
Information about why Ross was arguing with Ford, or if the men knew each other prior to the shooting, was not available.
Bond was denied for Ross, who is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center, jail records show.
Despite the arrest, Ford’s death continues to be investigated by the sheriff’s department and coroner’s office.
Ross previously pleaded guilty to robbery and assault & battery (of a high and aggravated nature) charges in 2025, Richland County court records show.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 7:52 AM.
