In the quiet of early Saturday morning, November 8, 2025, a somber discovery in one of Aiken County’s family gathering spots jolted the town into sadness. Authorities found the body of 29-year-old Jamal Richardson inside the ten-acre grounds of Windsor Recreational Park, located on Old School Road in Windsor, S.C. He was pronounced dead at 5:35 a.m. from a gunshot wound, according to Coroner Darryl Ables.
The park, a familiar spot known for its playground and open field, often echoes with the laughter of children and the footsteps of neighbors enjoying a weekend stroll. But this Saturday brought a different kind of silence. As investigators from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office moved in, the scene transformed from one of recreation to one of tragedy.
Friends and neighbors remember Jamal as “the coolest guy,” someone grounded, generous and always ready to lend a hand. Social-media posts describe him as “down to earth” with “the biggest heart.” It’s that very warmth that now leaves a hole in the community as it tries to make sense of the loss. The shock is doubled by the fact that, as of now, no suspects or motive have been publicly announced.
Investigators say the case remains open and are urging anyone who may have seen something or knows something to come forward. A text line has been set up: 803-487-3224. Authorities say that even the smallest bit of information could help piece together what led to this young life ending far too soon, in a space meant for joy and connection.
An autopsy has been scheduled for next week in Newberry to provide more details about the wound and possibly clarify how the events unfolded. Meanwhile, search lights and yellow tape stand in stark contrast to the playground benches and tree-lined paths where families once gathered without worry.
In the days since, the park has become a reflective site for the community—quiet conversations, shared memories of Jamal, and a collective pause as people struggle with questions: Why here? Why him? And perhaps most poignantly: How do you make sense of a friendly face you expected to see around next week? As one neighbor put it: “When you lose someone who just tried to do right by others, it shakes the ground you walk on.”
For now, the focus remains on investigation—but also on remembrance. Jamal Richardson’s name lingers in the posts, the whispers, the incredulous shakes of heads. A young man of 29, full of heart, taken at dawn in a place meant for daybreak, laughter and light. And now, the community waits—for answers, and for some healing.
