A Graniteville man was fatally shot Monday while riding in a car on Edgefield Highway in Aiken, authorities said.
Marquel Judge, 30, was a passenger in a car on the highway when a second car pulled up next to his and started shooting in the car, Coroner Darryl Ables said. He was struck in the head and died about three hours after being driven to the hospital in a private vehicle.
Two other people in the victim’s car identified the suspects as 21-year-old Jorge Valentino Espinoza and 18-year-old April Corlan Hudson.
“While searching the area, deputies located the subjects during a traffic stop where they were taken into custody,” sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Shunn said.
Espinoza is charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and weapon possession. Hudson is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder.
A motive is unclear. But Espinoza is the same man charged in 2019 with raping a 13-year-old girl after giving her marijuana that was laced with meth. He was charged as an adult, but prosecutors allowed him to plead guilty to assault and battery, and he was released with time served and a year of probation.
Three months ago, Espinoza was arrested in Edgefield County after he was allegedly found with a stolen gun. He was released on bond after a week in jail, and two charges for weapon possession remain pending in court.
The victim is being remembered online as a father and a “kind, loving person” with a humble spirit.
Walter Harvey said this on Facebook: “So much unnecessary violence and murder amongst our young adults. My condolences to the Judge Family circle and my niece’s love and great niece and great nephew for the loss of their Father and senseless deaths. Marquel Judge, Rest in peace nephew in law…The Devil is not taking a day off …… Stop the violence.”
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
