Rock Hill police make arrest in drug-related killing near elementary school
Police made arrests in two-drug related killings last week in Rock Hill, with charges upgraded to murder in one after a death on Friday.
Officers charged Melvin Robinson, 35 with murder Tuesday in the killing of Lawrence Howard last week, the Rock Hill Police Department said. Robinson also faces two weapons charges, police said.
Howard, 31, died on Amelia Avenue Wednesday after he was shot several times, police and the York County Coroner said. The shooting happened in a residential neighborhood near Richmond Drive Elementary School. The area is west of Cherry Road.
A woman, whose age and identity have not been released, was shot in the head and hand Wednesday at the Amelia Drive location, officers said. Her condition remains unclear.
The department issued a written statement Thursday after the shooting on Amelia Drive that said that shooting was drug-related.
“The homicide on Amelia Avenue is a result of an illegal narcotics sale that ended with the shooting of the victims,” the statement said.
Police have declined to release more information in the case, including the type of drugs allegedly involved, citing the ongoing investigation.
Nov. 3 drug deal involving marijuana leads to shooting
The first shooting happened on Nov. 3.
Two people were charged after a third man was shot during an alleged drug deal involving marijuana on Saluda Street in southern Rock Hill, according to statements from the police department. The wounded man had a gun then as shot when he tried to rob the two others, police said.
The man wounded later died on Friday. His name has not been released.
Charges against Christopher King Boyd, 21, and Demetris Maurice Franklin, 19, were upgraded from assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature to murder after the man died on Friday. Both suspects remain in the York County jail without bail.
The cases from Wednesday and Nov. 3 are not connected and happened in different parts of the city but both involved drugs and guns, police said. The common theme is drugs and guns, the Rock Hill Police Department said.
“There are two different shootings where both occurred during drug deals,” police Lt. Michael Chavis said.
