An Aiken man recently released from prison for a pair of violent 2009 shootings was killed at his home Friday night, authorities said.
Christopher Tobias Croft Sr., 43, was killed around 9 p.m. Friday in a drive-by shooting at his home at 1443 Redd St. NW, Coroner Darryl Ables said. Aiken officers responded to the report of a shooting victim inside the residence. Croft was pronounced dead on the scene.
The case is being investigated by Aiken Public Safety with the assistance of SLED and the coroner’s office. Aiken Public Safety officers have not announced any motive or suspects.
But Croft was just released from prison in June after serving 13 years of a 15-year sentence for a pair of violent shootings in Aiken County, according to online records.
In 2009, he was labeled by media as “one of Aiken’s most wanted criminal suspects” who was being sought in two shootings. He was found hiding out on York Street and had to be forced out by police with tear gas-like chemicals.
Authorities say Croft shot a 19-year-old man in the head on New Year’s Day 2009, and the victim survived. While out on bond for that case on May 9, 2009, he confronted a man outside the Lucky 7 convenience store on Hampton Avenue and shot the man in the back as the victim tried to run from him. The victim was struck under the left arm.
At the time, investigators also linked Croft to a 2008 gun crime when the suspect held his cousin at gunpoint during an argument and threatened to shoot him.
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Four months after his release from prison this year, Croft was re-arrested in October for unlawful carrying of a pistol, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and drug possession. He was freed on bond after five days.
After his death Friday, Croft was remembered online.
“Still can’t believe I won’t see you every morning, get no messages about what y’all cooking or funny videos, no more seeing you light up when you see fat man, no more waiting to turn up with you on the weekend,” Deidre Mack said. “It just ain’t right bruh.”
Hiya Folks added this: “What a sad morning, rest peacefully to such a genuine soul.”
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
