MOORE MAN RECEIVES 25-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR SOUTH-SIDE SHOOTING DEATH

A Moore man received a 25-year prison sentence today after he told a judge that he shot a man to death as an apartment complex on the City of Spartanburg’s south side.

Andre Ron Rogers, 21, of White Lilly Farm Road, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter before Circuit Judge Mark Hayes. The sentence was worded to be a 30-year prison sentence suspended upon the service of 25 years and five years of probation.

Rogers shot Clarence James Thompson, 24, of 161 Home St., to death on April 28, 2003. The shooting occurred about 9:40 p.m. in the parking lot of the Crescent Hills Apartments on Pineneedle Drive. Thompson died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to his chest.

Two witnesses to the incident identified Rogers as the shooter. Rogers and Thompson were involved in a verbal argument that escalated into a fight. During the fight, Rogers reached into his pockets, pulled out a gun and shot Thompson.

Rogers turned himself into Spartanburg Public Safety investigators two days after the shooting to face a murder charge. Assistant Solicitor John Anthony discussed the case with Thompson’s family prior to accepting the guilty plea.

“The state believes that a jury would probably view this as a manslaughter case rather than murder because there is evidence that the victim and the defendant were engaged in an altercation prior to the shooting,” Anthony said.