Recent Academic Magnet grad shot to death in West Ashley

A man was shot in a West Ashley parking lot early Saturday and later died at Medical University Hospital, according to Charleston police.

Neither the police spokesman nor the coroner’s office would identify the victim, but according to the athletic director at Academic Magnet High School, the dead man was one of his recent graduates, Marley Lion.

“The first call came from the lacrosse coach to me a half an hour ago,” Curtis Hoffman, the athletic director at the North Charleston school, said Saturday evening.

Hoffman said a parent called him with the same news minutes later, and while he was on the phone with a Post and Courier reporter, the lacrosse coach called back with further confirmation.

Hoffman said Lion was “a great athlete,” playing football, basketball and lacrosse, but before he could provide any more information, Hoffman said he had to hang up to call the school’s principal.

The news had spread quickly among the Academic Magnet community, including on Twitter which was awash with laments Saturday afternoon.

Police spokesman Charles Francis reported the victim was found lying on the ground near his vehicle in a restaurant parking lot at 1662 Savannah Highway. Police had responded to a report of shots being fired in the Ardmore subdivision about 4 a.m.

Police are seeking a suspect described as a black male, wearing baggy pants and white shoes. A possible second suspect was a black male wearing jeans and a dark T-shirt, according to Francis.

Anyone with information about the homicide or the suspects can call Charleston Police at 577-7434 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.

Check postandcourier.com for updates.