Columbia man sentenced to 40 years after fatal robbery attempt

Johnny Fletcher Jr. pleaded guilty on Feb. 10 to murder for the death of 32-year-old Nicholas Bonepart. (Photo: Columbia Police Dept.)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office officials say a Columbia man has pleaded guilty to murder this week.

Johnny Fletcher Jr. pleaded guilty on Feb. 10 to murder for the death of 32-year-old Nicholas Bonepart.

Fletcher was sentenced to spend 40 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

On Aug. 5, 2023, the Columbia Police Department responded to a shots-fired call on Waverly Street.

Officers found Bonepart unresponsive in the driver’s seat of his vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.

Emergency responders pronounced Bonepart dead at the scene, say officials.

According to police, witnesses told them Fletcher attempted to rob Bonepart and demanded that he empty his pockets.

Police say Fletcher fired into Bonepart’s car when tried to leave the area.

The gunfire hit Bonepart at least five times.