Laurens, South Carolina – A Laurens man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after orchestrating a vicious attack on another man whom he suspected of being an informant, according to the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Marcus Tyrone Grant, 46, was convicted by a Laurens County jury of assault and battery by a mob and kidnapping. The jury’s verdict was reached on Wednesday evening, leading to a 30-year prison sentence for Grant. The charges were classified as violent and serious, making Grant ineligible for parole due to his extensive history of violent criminal behavior dating back to 1998.
The incident occurred in January 2021 when officers responded to reports of a shooting at an apartment complex on Spring Street in Laurens. The victim, Jarius Byrd, had been shot multiple times after being assaulted by Grant and several other individuals earlier in the evening. Byrd was held captive at gunpoint in his apartment, where Grant inflicted severe injuries by repeatedly assaulting him. The motive behind the attack stemmed from Byrd’s past cooperation with law enforcement, resulting in Grant’s previous narcotics conviction and prison sentence.
About 45 minutes after the assault, authorities were called back to the apartment complex for the shooting that claimed Byrd’s life. The shooter, later identified as Antone “Cheese” Blakely, was found guilty in April 2023 and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Solicitor David M. Stumbo commended the collaboration between his office, law enforcement, and the judiciary in securing convictions and imposing substantial prison sentences on violent offenders like Grant and Blakely.
“The kind of community that Marcus Grant envisions in Laurens is one where individuals are punished for assisting law enforcement,” Stumbo stated during the trial. He reaffirmed his commitment to working alongside law enforcement to hold dangerous career criminals accountable for their actions.
In representing the state, Solicitor Stumbo and Deputy Solicitor Thomas, along with law enforcement officials, played crucial roles in ensuring justice was served in the case. Grant’s defense was led by Hunter Blouin of the Greenville County Bar.
The sentencing of Marcus Grant serves as a reminder of the consequences that violent actions can have on individuals and communities, reinforcing the importance of cooperation between law enforcement and prosecutors in combating criminal behavior and ensuring public safety.