Blaize Pedro Plaza pleaded guilty at the the Laurens County Courthouse to a charge of murder. The 21-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
On December 19, 2021, Plaza and his girlfriend were riding with the victim, Jamal Alston, when an argument began.
Alston pulled the car over along Highway 66 in Whitmire, South Carolina to allow Plaza to use the restroom.
At some point, Plaza shot Alston five times before fleeing the scene in Alston’s car, leaving him “gravely wounded” on the side of the road.
Shortly after, officials said a vehicle fire was reported in Union County.
The car belonged to Alston. Plaza was quickly determined as a suspect. Plaza confessed to the crime and his story was corroborated by his girlfriend.
“What likely started as a good night for Jamal Alston ended in tragedy over a meaningless argument,” Solicitor Stumbo said.
“I cannot say enough about the great investigative work done in this case that allowed us to get justice for Jamal and his family quickly.
I pray his family can find closure and begin to heal from the senseless death of their loved one.”
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