Columbia, South Carolina – A Laurens man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for orchestrating a brutal assault on an individual he suspected of being an informant, as announced by 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo.
Marcus Tyrone Grant, aged 46, was convicted by a Laurens County jury of assault and battery by a mob, along with kidnapping. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday evening, leading to Grant receiving a 30-year prison sentence, with 18 years to be served behind bars followed by five years of probation upon release. Due to the nature of the crimes classified as violent and serious, Grant is not eligible for parole, given his extensive history of violent offenses dating back to 1998.
In January 2021, Laurens Police Department officers responded to a shooting incident at Spring Street apartments in Laurens, where the victim, Jarius Byrd, had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Investigation revealed that Byrd had been subjected to an assault earlier that day by Grant, Antone “Cheese” Blakely, and several others. Byrd was held captive at gunpoint in his apartment by the assailants, with Grant assaulting him, inflicting severe injuries. The motive behind the attack stemmed from Byrd’s past cooperation with law enforcement in a case that led to Grant’s conviction and imprisonment.
Shortly after the assault, officers were summoned back to the same location for a shooting incident, where it was determined that Blakely had fatally shot Byrd following the earlier assault. Blakely was subsequently tried, convicted, and sentenced to 40 years in prison in April 2023.
Solicitor Stumbo commended the collaborative efforts of his team, the Laurens Police Department, and lead investigator Sgt. Billy Sellers in securing Grant’s conviction and ensuring a substantial prison sentence. Stumbo emphasized the importance of standing alongside law enforcement to hold violent offenders like Grant accountable for their actions, reiterating a commitment to justice and community safety.
Grant’s defense was led by Hunter Blouin of the Greenville County Bar, with Solicitor Stumbo, Deputy Solicitor Joshua Thomas, 8th Circuit Investigator Jared Hunnicutt, and 8th Circuit Victim Advocate Joy Lindsay overseeing the prosecution. This case highlights the critical role of law enforcement collaboration in addressing and prosecuting violent crimes within the community, underscoring the dedication of prosecutors and investigators to deliver justice for victims and uphold public safety.