Third man sentenced to prison following Columbiana Mall mass shooting

SC 04/04/2025 (Paul Kirby) - Marquise Robinson, 23, of Columbia, has received an active sentence of 30 years in a SC Department of Corrections prison for his role in the mass shooting that took place at Columbiana Mall on April 16, 2022 in the Harbison area of Lexington County. The sentence was imposed by Judge Walton J. McLeod IV.

Robinson was convicted following a jury trial in Lexington County in November of 2024. He was found guilty of 9 counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature. Nine civilian bystanders were injured by gunfire while shopping at the Columbiana Mall on Easter weekend of 2022.

This case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes. The case was investigated by the Columbia Police Department.

Two additional participants in the shooting were recently convicted and sentenced. Amari Smith, age 24, pled guilty on November 1, 2024, and was sentenced to 30 years for his role in the shooting. Jewayne Price, 25, was convicted by a jury in October of 2024 and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

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On Saturday afternoon, April 16, 2022, Columbiana Mall was filled with employees and patrons, including families with children and infants in strollers. Price arrived at the mall with his girlfriend and was illegally carrying a concealed firearm in his pants. Video surveillance showed that Price entered through a main entrance marked with signs prohibiting concealed weapons inside the mall.

Smith and Robinson also entered the mall while carrying concealed weapons in their waistbands. These 2 arrived together and also entered through a main entrance marked with signs indicating that no concealed weapons were allowed in the space.

The investigation determined that Smith and Robinson had a pre-existing dispute with Jewayne Price, as a result of the 2018 shooting death of Amon Rice, age 17, in Columbia. The dispute escalated when the parties crossed paths at the mall. Video surveillance depicted Price pulling a 9 mm pistol from his pants and aiming it at Robinson, while Robinson and Smith also pulled firearms. Price and Smith exchanged numerous rounds of gunfire during the running gunfight. The suspects missed one another but their rounds struck nine innocent bystanders.

The investigation determined that at least 17 rounds of ammunition were fired inside the main corridor of the mall near The Gap store. Eventually, 11 rounds were matched to Price’s 9 mm Glock pistol. The remaining six 6 rounds were fired by an unrecovered gun in the possession of Smith. Video surveillance from the mall depicts Robinson in possession of a .40 caliber pistol during the shootout. That gun was later recovered by law enforcement at a residence in Columbia. Robinson’s gun had one fired casing jammed in the gun’s chamber, rendering the firearm inoperable.

A Lexington County Sheriff’s Department crime scene reconstruction expert determined that six victims sustained gunshot wounds from Smith, including a 15-year-old girl and her 16-year-old brother who were shopping at the mall with their father during Easter weekend. The reconstruction analysis further determined that three victims were shot by Price, including a 73-year-old female who sustained critical injuries.

Following the sentence, 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard commented: “We are truly grateful that all three of these reckless defendants have been held accountable. Many lives and families were permanently affected by this criminal behavior. We hope these convictions and sentences will reassure the public that acts of violence will not be tolerated in our community.”

Prior to imposing the sentence today on Robinson, Judge McLeod stated that “the sentence must send a message to anyone who would commit or aid in such a shooting. The act of one here is the act of all.”

Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook made the following statement following today’s hearing: “Today’s sentence reinforces the priority of public safety. Columbia Police Department investigators and 11th Circuit prosecutors have worked in tandem since the senseless crime occurred. The verdicts and sentences of all those involved sends a clear message – those who choose violence in our communities will be held accountable for their actions.”