Newberry County 911 was notified by Laurens County Sheriff’s Office regarding a bloody male walking on SC Highway 66 at the Newberry/Laurens County line. Laurens and Newberry County Deputies and Whitmire Police Officers arrived to find a male that had been shot multiple times, standing almost directly on the Laurens/Newberry County Line.
Although he was conscious at the time, he was only able to provide few details. The man, later identified as, Jamal Jermaine Alston, 24, of Winnsboro said he had picked up a white male and a white female from a gas station. He went on to say they had taken his 2015 tan Honda Accord. Alston was transported by the Newberry County EMS and Whitmire Rescue Squad to an area trauma center, where he died because of his gunshot wounds.
While investigating in the area where Alston was found, Deputies learned that a car was on fire in Union County. Deputies responded to Eaves Road in Union County, where they found a vehicle completely burned. Forensic investigation later identified the vehicle belonged to Mr. Alston.
Investigators from Newberry, Laurens, and Union Counties along with SLED are investigating the murder due to elements of the crime appear to be in each jurisdiction. The investigative teams are trying to piece together Mr. Alston’s timeline of the evening and determine which gas station he was located when picking up the believed assailants. The Newberry County Coroner’s Office will have a forensic autopsy done at a forthcoming date.
“This is an extremely bizarre case,” according to Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster. “We need the public’s help in solving this case. We are working hard to find evidence of locations and the people he picked up. If you have any information regarding this situation, please call your local Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC,” said Sheriff Foster.
