On the evening of September 4, 2024, 18-year-old Jelani Amir Jackson, a Black male recently out of high school, was shot while walking on Clinton Avenue near Ruth Street in Lancaster, South Carolina. Neighbors first thought the gunfire sounded like firecrackers; officers found Jackson with a gunshot wound and he later died at MUSC-Lancaster Medical Center. Family described him as well-loved and kind.

Lancaster Police treated the killing as a priority and linked it to suspected retaliatory, gang-related violence in the area. Within a week, 19-year-old Kenyan Blair was charged with murder and a weapons offense; he was already in custody on unrelated charges when served with the arrest warrant. Authorities later named 31-year-old Lamonta Dishanior Roberts as a second suspect, sought as armed and dangerous.

The probe involved local, state and federal partners. If anyone who knew Jelani or witnessed activity on Clinton Avenue that night has information, please come forward.