Jeffrey O. Kight, Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to the 2013 murder, Monday, of William Rush Falls, 56.

The 11th Curcuit Solicitor’s Office was prepared to begin the murder trial in Lexington County before the plea, according to a news release. Kight was charged with fatally shooting Falls.
The shooting occurred around 6:45 am on March 13, 2013 when the victim was shot while inside his residence located at 115 Emma Drive in Lexington.

Upon arrival at the scene, C.S.I. Detective Mike Phipps of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department recovered video from a surveillance system positioned in the yard of the victim’s home.
The video surveillance recording showed a lone shooter approaching a kitchen window of the victim’s home and then pointing a long gun into the window frame. The investigation determined that a single shot was fired through the window and fatally wounded Falls.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement learned that Kight had stolen the murder weapon two days earlier during a burglary on Abingdon Drive, a parallel street next to Emma Drive. Ballistics testing conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division determined that the .12 gauge shotgun stolen from the Abingdon Drive residence was the same firearm used to shoot Falls.

At the time of the shooting, then-Sheriff James Metts said Falls was killed as a result of an argument involving the death of a dog owned by Kight, who was 19 at the time. The sheriff said the dog died after it was hit by a car on Old Barnwell Road. The dispute ensued after that.
Kight was sentenced to 30 years for the crimes of murder and possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime. The sentence must be served “day for day” and he will not be eligible for parole or early release. Circuit Court Judge Eugene C. Griffith, Jr. imposed the sentence. Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes and Assistant Solicitor Bradley Pogue handled the prosecution of the case on behalf of the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Family members of William Rush Falls were present for the guilty plea and sentencing hearing.