In the quiet of a Tuesday evening, August 12, 2025, a devastating incident shattered the peace of a home on Durham Place Road near Lake Wateree in Fairfield County, South Carolina. What began as a heated argument inside a residence escalated into a deadly confrontation, leaving one woman dead and another person wounded. The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office has since pieced together the chilling events, identifying the victim as 37-year-old Laporsha Jasma Farr, a vibrant woman from Spartanburg whose life was tragically cut short just days before her 38th birthday.
Deputies were dispatched to the scene following reports of gunfire, arriving to a grim discovery: Laporsha Jasma Farr lay unresponsive, a gunshot wound to her neck stealing her life before help could intervene. Despite desperate lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim, struck in the hip by a bullet, was rushed to Prisma Health Richland, where they remain in stable condition, fighting to recover from the violent encounter. The loss of Farr, described by those who knew her as a cherished member of her community, has left a void in the hearts of many.
Investigators quickly unraveled the chaos that unfolded inside the home. According to authorities, three men were present when a dispute erupted, spiraling into violence. One of them, 41-year-old Jerry Jones of Greenville, allegedly drew a handgun, firing the fatal shot that claimed Farr’s life and wounded the second victim. Jones fled the scene alongside two others, Benny Grady and William Mack, setting the stage for a manhunt that gripped the region.
The pursuit of justice culminated on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in Greenville County, where Jones became the focus of a tense, three-hour standoff with law enforcement. As authorities closed in, the standoff unfolded with high stakes, ending with Jones’s arrest. His charges are severe: murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Meanwhile, Grady and Mack, apprehended over the preceding days without incident, face charges as accessories after the fact for their roles in the aftermath of the shooting. The collaborative efforts of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and police departments in Greenville and Greer were instrumental in bringing all three suspects into custody.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working tirelessly to uncover the full circumstances that led to this heartbreaking tragedy. The loss of Laporsha Jasma Farr has cast a somber shadow over Fairfield County, with her birthday serving as a poignant reminder of a life taken too soon. The community mourns, and questions linger about the events that unfolded that fateful night, as officials strive to ensure justice for Farr and closure for those she left behind.
