Ricky Martin Jr., a 35-year-old Black male from Sumter, South Carolina, was a father of five who also had ties to the Johnston area. He was survived by his mother, five children, six siblings, and many other relatives and friends who mourned his sudden loss.
On the afternoon of March 2, 2024, the quiet of an apartment complex on May Street in Johnston was broken by gunfire. A call was made to authorities around 4:23 p.m., and when they arrived, they found Ricky Martin Jr. had been shot multiple times. He died from his injuries at the scene. The Johnston Police Department requested that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) take the lead on the homicide investigation.
Using video footage, interviews, and a thorough canvass of the area, investigators quickly identified persons of interest. Two days after the shooting, on March 4, SLED agents arrested 37-year-old Roscoe Pough Jr. and charged him with accessory after the fact to murder.
Warrants alleged that Pough drove the suspected shooter away from the scene in his 2022 Chevrolet Avalanche. Pough was booked into the Edgefield County Detention Center.
The search for the alleged gunman extended out of state. On March 20, with assistance from the Maryland State Police and the Prince George's County Police Department, SLED agents apprehended 37-year-old Quenell Marquis Anderson in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Anderson was charged with the murder of Ricky Martin Jr. and was positively identified as the individual who shot him.
Following his arrest, Anderson was extradited back to South Carolina. He was initially booked at the Edgefield County Detention Center before being transferred to the Newberry County Detention Center for housing. The investigation continued, leading to a third arrest on April 3. Anthony Lee Fletcher, 58, was charged with accessory after the fact to murder. According to his arrest warrant, Fletcher allegedly took possession of the firearm used in the shooting and was seen leaving the scene with both Anderson and Pough. He was also booked at the Edgefield County Detention Center.
The case is set to be prosecuted by the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. As of May 2025, Quenell Marquis Anderson remained in custody awaiting trial. That month, he was served with an additional charge of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
