Jury convicts Clinton man in 2025 murder
Vincent Viner
A Laurens County jury convicted a Clinton man of murder Saturday following a week-long trial at the county’s Hillcrest Judicial Complex, and he will spend the next 45 years in prison
After the trial spilled into the weekend, Vincent Marc Viner, 34, was found guilty of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in the 2025 shooting death of Army veteran Rufford Lee Jones, 69.
Circuit Judge William C. McMaster III sentenced Viner to 40 years in prison for murder and five years in prison for possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The sentences will run consecutively and must be served day-for-day, with no possibility of parole.
On the night of March 4, 2025, officers with Clinton Police Department were dispatched just before midnight to Florence Street after receiving multiple calls reporting gunshots being fired. When officers arrived, they located Jones lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Officers began to immediately render aid to Jones while attempting to locate the suspect. They located Viner near the incident location. Viner was armed with a 9mm handgun at the time of his arrest. Viner went to the Jones’ residence to confront him and later said he fired in self-defense, a claim the jury rejected.
According to police, the shooting followed an argument between the two men, who were neighbors in Clinton.
“Personal disputes should never be resolved at the end of a gun barrel,” 8th Solicitor David Stumbo said. “Vincent Viner chose violence over reason and took the life of Mr. Jones, who had served our country with distinction in years past. I hope this sends a clear message that those who resort to gun violence without just cause will be held fully accountable for their actions.”
Assistant Solicitor Mary Madison Driggers, Assistant Solicitor Elizabeth Able, and Deputy Solicitor Taylor Daniel handled the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigators Joey Pittman and Tryone Goggins and 8th Circuit Victim Advocate Lauren Powers. Viner was represented by William Yarbrough III of the Greenville County Bar.
Stumbo praised the work of his prosecution team, along with CPD Assistant Chief Stephan Lawton, Lt. Shane Prather, Inv. Adam Galloway, and officers Trae Coleman, Cory Barnes and Brandon Howard, in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
