Chendric J. Brown, a 27-year-old Columbia man, has been sentenced to 54 years in prison following his conviction in Lexington County for Murder and Attempted Murder. Chief Administrative Judge Debra R. McCaslin imposed the sentence on the murder charge with thirty (30) years concurrent on the attempted murder charge. Brown is not eligible for parole under South Carolina law.

Brown was convicted of the murder of Harold L. Peak, III, age 22, who was shot in the Princeton Road area of Lexington County on September 24, 2022. The trial began on January 5, 2026, and concluded on January 14, 2026, when a Lexington County jury returned its verdict.

This case was prosecuted by Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard and Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes. The murder investigation was conducted by Det. Bryan Senn of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Unit.

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated, “We appreciate the commitment of Sheriff Jay Koon and the entire Sheriff’s Department in their investigation of this case. This was a premeditated act of violence – carried out with a complete disregard for human life. Our office remains committed in our mission to protect our community from violent crimes.”

The evidence presented at trial established that Brown drove to the front of an abandoned house on Princeton Road on the night of September 24, 2022. Peak and another man were known to be at a nearby residence. Evidence established that Brown and an accomplice waited by the roadside for Peak to leave the residence and then opened fire with a 7.62 assault rifle on the red Kia Soul in which Peak was a passenger. Peak was fatally struck by gunfire, and the driver of the vehicle was also struck and survived his injuries. A neighbor’s residence across the street on Princeton Road was struck by errant gunfire from the 7.62 weapon while residents were present inside.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department pursued many leads which led to Brown being developed as a suspect in the case. Video surveillance from nearby locations depicted a vehicle consistent with Brown’s white Lexus NX departing the area of the shooting at 11:47 pm, just four minutes after gunfire was heard in the area. Brown was identified by a witness as the driver of the white Lexus NX on the night of the shooting.

Digital evidence presented at trial included numerous text messages sent by Brown to an accomplice on the night of the murder. Testimony established that Brown was seeking information as to Peak’s location and that Brown expressed anger towards Peak. Video and photographs from Brown’s phone depicted him to be previously in possession of a 7.62 assault rifle consistent with the murder weapon.

Brown has been transported to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin immediate service of the sentence.