Spartanburg County Solicitor's Office
Jamal K. Rios, 28, of Spartanburg, pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Jamal K. Rios, 28, of Spartanburg, pleaded guilty to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and unlawful possession of a weapon. Rios shot a person in the face on May 10, 2020 at the Prince Hall Apartments.
Witnesses reported seeing Ross flee the scene in a light-colored Nissan. The victim used hand gestures to identify Rios as the shooter in a photo lineup presented by police officers at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.
The defendant’s girlfriend told police she let Rios borrow her light-colored Nissan prior to the shooting. Rios returned to his girlfriend’s house after the shooting and admitted to shooting the victim. Police arrested Rios on May 13.
The victim was hospitalized about a month following the shooting. He was also forced to eat with a feeding tube for an extended period.
Rios’ prior criminal record includes convictions for first-degree domestic violence, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen pistol, third-degree assault and battery and escape.
He will serve 85 percent of Circuit Judge Mark Hayes’ prison sentence before he is eligible for release.
Assistant Solicitor Eddie Hunter prosecuted the case.