About Marley Lion

At about 4 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, officers responded to a shots fired call in the Ardmore subdivision in the Yew Street area. A teen was found laying on the ground outside his vehicle in the Famous Joe's Bar & Grill parking lot located at 1662 Savannah Highway. That teen was identified as recent Academic Magnet graduate Marley Lion.

Officials say Lion pulled into the parking lot to sleep after a party. He was shot not long after making a bed in his SUV in what investigators believe was an attempted robbery.

Lion died at MUSC.

The Case

The Suspects

The Evidence

The Reaction

The men charged in the death of Marley Lion:

Ryan Deleston (alleged trigger man)

Deleston is charged with murder, use of a weapon in a violent crime, attempted armed robbery, and possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number. He's no stranger to law enforcement officials. His SLED rap sheet is a half-dozen pages long and includes charges related to drug possession, drug distribution, simple assault and resisting arrest. Mullen said 30-year-old Deleston was arrested as he exited a CARTA bus on Monday, July 30, 2012.

According to an affidavit, Deleston said he and another suspect passed the gun considerd to be the murder weapon back and forth in preparation for an attempted armed robbery of Marley Lion.

Officials with the Charleston Police Department say with the help of the ATF, they were able to purchase a gun from Deleston -- a gun with a missing serial number that SLED said was the murder weapon.

Julius Brown (second time he's been charged w/ murder)

32-year-old Julius Brown is charged with obstruction of justice, murder and attempted armed robbery. Julius Brown was arrested on White Oak Drive on Monday, July 30, 2012. Investigators say Julius Brown provided a false alibi for Ryan Deleston.

A search of the South Carolina sex offender database reveals Julius Brown was convicted in 2004 of criminal sexual conduct with a 16-year-old female. He was also charged in 2004 for the 2000 murder of 23-year-old Atiyaa Manley. That charge was dismissed. Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson says the case was thrown out because the only witness died.

Brian Rivers (previous conviction for armed robbery)

27-year-old Bryan Rivers is facing charges of murder, attempted armed robbery and possession of a weapon with an obliterated serial number. Rivers' rap sheet is just as long as Deleston's. He has previous convictions of assault and battery, robbery and drug possession. Rivers was arrested on White Oak Drive Monday, July 30, 2012.

According to an affidavit, Ryan Deleston said he and Rivers passed the gun back and forth in preparation for an attempted armed robbery of Lion.

George Brown (only suspect not charged with murder)

The arrest of 27-year-old George Brown makes the fourth in the investigation. He is charged with accessory after the fact of murder and possession of a handgun with an obliterated serial number.

Brown has a much smaller criminal file than the others charged in the case. He has a previous conviction for a simple assault charge. In 2010 he was found shot several times in the driveway of a home in the Ponderosa subdivision, and investigators say his shooting may have been connected to his witnessing the 2008 murder of Shawn Michael Porter. The suspect in that case was found not guilty.

Sources: Charleston Police Department, Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office, Charleston County Court Records

Trio sentenced in Marley Lion murder case
Updated: Nov 20, 2013 7:50 PM EST
Three men faced a judge Wednesday, all of them pleaded guilty to various charges associated with the murder of 17-year-old Marley Lion.
Co-defendants in Marley Lion case due in court
Updated: Nov 20, 2013 10:57 AM EST
The Marley Lion case continues Wednesday in the sentencing of Bryan Rivers and Julius Brown.
Marley Lion's mom: 'I'm not going to give up on life'
Updated: Oct 11, 2013 11:06 PM EDT
After two hours of deliberation and a week-long trial, a jury found Ryan Deleston guilty of the high-profile murder of a Lowcountry teen.
Accused triggerman found guilty in murder of Marley Lion
Updated: Oct 11, 2013 8:08 PM EDT
Deliberations began Friday afternoon in the case of the man accused of shooting Marley Lion five times.
Marley Lion trial video: Deleston admits to selling murder weapon
Updated: Oct 10, 2013 8:04 PM EDT
The state showed about one hour of a four-hour video, taped while police interviewed Deleston hours before he was charged with murder.
Marley Lion murder trial: Friends say Deleston pulled trigger
Updated: Oct 09, 2013 7:22 PM EDT
However, neither DNA nor fingerprint testing linked any of the suspects with the murder, investigators said.
Marley Lion's mother called as witness during day 1 of trial
Updated: Oct 08, 2013 7:54 PM EDT
Ryan Deleston is charged in the robbery-turned-murder that left Marley Lion, 17, dead next to his SUV outside Famous Joe's bar in West Ashley.
Jury selection begins in Marley Lion case
Updated: Oct 07, 2013 6:04 PM EDT
Attorneys for one of the men accused of killing Marley Lion filed motions Monday morning to have an unrelated armed robbery stricken from evidence. That motion was among nearly a dozen other pre-trial motions filed by the defense and prosecution as both sides selected jurors and prepared to present their cases on Tuesday.
2nd Marley Lion defendant takes plea deal
Updated: Sep 13, 2013 4:22 PM EDT
A second man charged in connection to the murder of Marley Lion pleaded guilty on Friday to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for his testimony against the accused triggerman.
Marley Lion suspect takes plea deal
Updated: Sep 11, 2013 4:58 PM EDT
One of the men charged in the shooting death of 17-year-old Marley Lion accepted a plea deal last week.
Friends, family remember Marley Lion
Updated: Aug 01, 2013 11:18 PM EDT
Friends and family of Marley Lion gathered to celebrate what would have been the teenager's birthday on Thursday.
Mother's post comparing Trayvon Martin and Marley Lion goes viral
Updated: Jul 16, 2013 6:57 PM EDT
All it takes is a click. And tens of thousands of shares later, Elizabeth O'Neill's graphic comparing Trayvon Martin's death to Marley Lions' death went viral.
Attorneys reach accord in Marley Lion evidence
Updated: Mar 07, 2013 8:26 AM EST
Limits were assigned Wednesday to the defense team in the Marley Lion murder case, although attorneys will get some of the information they requested.
Alleged trigger man in Marley Lion murder due in court
Updated: Mar 06, 2013 3:15 PM EST
Ryan P. Deleston, one of the four men charged with the June 2012 murder of 17-year-old Marley Lion, is scheduled to be in court Wednesday.
A suspect in Lion's murder appears before a judge
Updated: Nov 16, 2012 6:53 PM EST
Exactly five months ago, 17-year-old Marley Lion, was murdered in a West Ashley parking lot.
Friends of Marley Lion say they feel relief
Updated: Aug 02, 2012 9:47 AM EDT
Marley Lion's friends are still grieving his loss but say they feel some closure knowing that four arrests have been made in his murder. Stewart
Two more charged with murder in Marley Lion death
Updated: Aug 01, 2012 7:13 PM EDT
Julius Brown and Bryan Rivers have now also been charged with the murder of Marley Lion. Police say they were with the gunman, Ryan Deleston, when he shot the teen.
Court affidavit suggests Lion murder was a failed robbery
Updated: Aug 01, 2012 4:33 PM EDT
According to an affidavit, the death of Marley Lion was a result of what was originally a plan of a group of men to commit a robbery at a sports bar.
Suspects in surveillance charged in Lion murder
Updated: Aug 01, 2012 7:49 AM EDT
Officials released surveillance video from the night of Lion's death. The investigation took weeks but police say the men seen in the video, one they say who killed Lion, are now in custody.
Charges brought against 4 men in Marley Lion case
Updated: Jul 31, 2012 6:25 PM EDT
Charleston police chief Greg Mullen held a press conference Tuesday, announcing murder charges in the Marley Lion case on the same day the teen would have celebrated his 18th birthday.
CPD announces Tuesday press conference after Ardmore Subdivision search
Updated: Jul 31, 2012 8:04 AM EDT
The Charleston Police Department has announced a press conference Tuesday in reference to the police operation executed in the Ardmore Subdivision on Monday.
Marley Lion remembered through music
Updated: Jul 30, 2012 10:41 AM EDT
Music and community were two things friends of 17-year-old Marley Lion say he lived for.
Marley Lion music festival planned for Sunday
Updated: Jul 27, 2012 3:17 PM EDT
The death of 17 year old Marley Lion was a shock to the community; however, friends and family have found a way to come together and honor his life.
Music tribute planned for Marley Lion
Updated: Jul 18, 2012 10:20 AM EDT
On Tuesday afternoon, friends John Jamison and Matthew Finlayson endlessly jammed out on their guitars even though they were missing a person who usually was a part of the jam session. They sat together, practicing -- all in an effort to perfect a tribute to heir best friend, Marley Lion.
CPD investigating tips received on Marley Lion tip line
Updated: Jul 06, 2012 4:03 PM EDT
Charleston Police Department spokesman Charles Francis says traffic on the Marley Lion tip line has been moderate.
Man could hold key to solving Lion murder
Updated: Jul 03, 2012 7:09 PM EDT
Charleston police say they are confident an arrest can be made in the Marley Lion murder case, and they believe one person may hold the key to making that possible.
CPD pleads with public to come forward with info on murder of Marley Lion
Updated: Jul 03, 2012 3:53 PM EDT
The Charleston Police Department held a press conference Tuesday to ask the public for help in finding Marley Lion's killer.
Underwater search continues for evidence in Marley Lion murder
Updated: Jul 03, 2012 12:28 PM EDT
Mulberry Street is closed to anyone except emergency personnel as crews continue to search for clues in the killing of 17-year-old Marley Lion.
CPD searches pond for evidence in Marley Lion murder
Updated: Jul 02, 2012 4:36 PM EDT
Investigators with the Charleston POlice Department have been searching the retention pond behind Famous Joe's on Savannah Highway.
City leaders: 'Stand up Charleston' to crimes in the community
Updated: Jun 29, 2012 10:42 PM EDT
"Stand up Charleston." That's the message the city's leaders are getting out about the bloodshed in the community. The message comes on the heels of three recent violent killings.
Friends, family hope reward fund will help find Marley Lion's killer
Updated: Jun 29, 2012 4:46 PM EDT
Friends and family members of Marley Lion have worked to gather thousands of dollars in additional reward money in hopes of finding the teens killer.
A pastor preaches for public action
Updated: Jun 25, 2012 8:39 PM EDT
Reverend John Paul Brown saw 17-year-old Marley Lion's life come full circle, right before his eyes. He baptized Lion at Mt. Zion AME Church in Charleston and preached at his funeral last Thursday.
Benefit planned for teen murder victim's family
Updated: Jun 23, 2012 10:26 AM EDT
A Lowcountry restaurant is hosting a benefit for the family of a teenager shot to death as he slept in his car.
Marley Lion laid to rest; Police still searching for his killer
Updated: Jun 21, 2012 8:16 PM EDT
Cars lined the street outside St. James Episcopal Church on James Island as an overflow of mourners paid their respects to 17-year-old Marley Lion Thursday.
Neighbors fear W. Ashley crime becoming common
Updated: Jun 21, 2012 12:35 PM EDT
Several neighbors told ABC News 4 that they hear gun shots so often they've become nearly immune to it.
Police chief: Marley Lion 'did absolutely nothing to be murdered'
Updated: Jun 20, 2012 7:53 AM EDT
As investigators shared video surveillance of the shooting death of Marley Lion, they said his murder was an attempted robbery that turned homicide.
Local businesses help to find teen's killer
Updated: Jun 19, 2012 11:21 PM EDT
When Christopher Gatlin heard about the murder of 17-year old Marley Lion, he was shocked. It's that same shock that has led dozens of local businesses to join in the fight to find the teen's killer.
CPD provides update on recent murders
Updated: Jun 19, 2012 9:42 PM EDT
Officials with the Charleston Police Department held a special press conference Tuesday.
Police search for clues in a teen's murder
Updated: Jun 18, 2012 9:31 PM EDT
The flag flew at half-mast at Academic Magnet High School, as the school community mourned the loss of a former classmate, Marley Lion, shot and killed Saturday.
Teen shot dead, community forced to cope
Updated: Jun 18, 2012 1:51 PM EDT
The healing process will start this morning for a community shattered after the shooting death of a Johns Island teen.
17-year-old's life cut short after botched robbery
Updated: Jun 17, 2012 7:08 PM EDT
The last few weeks couldn't have been better for Robert and Elizabeth Paige. Marley Lion, Elizabeth's oldest son and Robert's stepson, had just graduated from the Academic Magnet and was looking forward to starting his freshman year at Clemson.
Teen found dead outside Famous Joe's
Updated: Jun 17, 2012 5:26 PM EDT
About 4 a.m. Saturday morning, officers responded to a shots fired call in the Ardmore subdivision in the Yew Street area.