Laurens, South Carolina – A Laurens man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after leading a brutal assault on another individual whom he suspected of being an informant. The verdict was announced by 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo on Thursday.
Marcus Tyrone Grant, aged 46, was convicted by a Laurens County jury for assault and battery by a mob as well as kidnapping. The jury reached their decision on Wednesday evening, leading to Circuit Judge Cordell Maddox imposing a sentence of 30 years in prison, with 18 years to be served before eligibility for probation. Due to the violent and serious nature of the crimes, Grant is not eligible for parole, given his extensive criminal history that dates back to 1998.
The incident took place in January 2021, when officers from the Laurens Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex on Spring Street. The victim, identified as Jarius Byrd, had been shot multiple times.
Investigations revealed that Byrd had previously been assaulted by Grant, along with a group of other individuals, including Antone “Cheese” Blakely, and had been held captive at gunpoint in his own apartment. Grant proceeded to brutally assault Byrd, causing significant injuries, with the attack stemming from Byrd’s past cooperation with law enforcement that had led to Grant’s prior conviction.
Less than an hour after the assault, another shooting incident occurred at the same location, resulting in Byrd’s tragic death at the hands of Blakely. Blakely was subsequently tried, convicted, and sentenced to 40 years in prison in April 2023 for his role in the incident.
Solicitor Stumbo commended the efforts of law enforcement, particularly highlighting the work of lead investigator Sgt. Billy Sellers from the Laurens Police Department. Stumbo emphasized the importance of cooperation with law enforcement and vowed to continue working alongside law enforcement to bring individuals like Marcus Grant to justice.
The case was handled by Solicitor Stumbo and Deputy Solicitor Joshua Thomas, with the support of 8th Circuit Investigator Jared Hunnicutt and Victim Advocate Joy Lindsay. Grant was represented by Hunter Blouin from the Greenville County Bar.