Correy T. Brown, 24, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in a shooting death which occurred at an apartment complex near 200 Berryhill Road in the St. Andrews area of Lexington County.

The sentence was imposed this week in Lexington County General Sessions Court following Brown’s guilty plea to charges of Murder and Armed Robbery. Under South Carolina law, Brown is not eligible for parole and must serve each day of the thirty-five year sentence.

On March 18, 2018, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department was notified of a shooting in the parking lot area of Peachtree Place Apartments at approximately 9:11 pm. First responders found the victim, Brian Rogers, age 36, fatally injured.

During the course of the investigation, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department determined that multiple suspects with ties to a local gang had been in the area of Peachtree Place Apartments on the night of the shooting for the purpose of breaking into motor vehicles.

The investigation concluded that Brown was a participant in theft activity from vehicles in the parking lot area. Additional information led to the arrest of Brown, and two other co-defendants, in connection with the murder of Brian Rogers. The investigation revealed that Rogers was the victim of an attempted armed robbery just prior to the shooting. During sentencing, the prosecution noted Brown’s responsibility under the “hand of one is the hand of all” legal principle in South Carolina.

Brown also pled guilty to the charge of Armed Robbery in connection to a car theft at gunpoint which occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Cayce, on November 19, 2019. The City of Cayce Police Department learned that Brown, and a co-defendant, were breaking into vehicles just prior to the armed robbery which occurred at 6:00 am.

Law enforcement determined that Brown, and others, were involved in the theft of guns and/or ammunition from multiple vehicles in both Richland County and Lexington County. Brown is a validated gang member and evidence recovered during the investigation confirmed that he was engaged in selling firearms to third parties via social media.

This case was prosecuted by 11th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes and investigated by members of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia Police Department, and the City of Cayce Police Department.

Family members of Brian Rogers spoke at the sentencing hearing and shared memories of him as a beloved father, brother, and son.

Brown is being transported to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin immediate service of his sentence.