BENNETSVILLE, S.C. — One Rockingham man is dead and an another is facing several charges, including murder, following a fatal weekend shooting at a club near the border of North and South Carolina.
The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office responded to the State Line Bar & Grill early Saturday morning after receiving information that a victim was being treated at a North Carolina hospital after being shot at the nightclub, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
Investigators say the victim, 22-year-old Kinnie Marquan Utley, was pronounced dead and identified by North Carolina Medical Examiner Leo Goodwin.
The alleged shooter, 18-year-old Tajuwon Deondre Short, was taken into custody Monday after turning himself in to Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon following an investigation that showed he was responsible, according to the press release.
Investigators say Short is charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a pistol. He was arraigned on those charges and will later receive a bond hearing from a circuit court judge.
“We would like to thank SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation,” Lemon said in a statement. “Our continued thoughts and prayers will be lifted for the family and friends of Mr. Utley and Mr. Short as well as the Rockingham community.”
Online court records show Short has a court appearance scheduled June 3 on charges related to a 2018 robbery in Rockingham.
The sheriff said he has begun taking legal steps to shut down the bar on Hwy 38 due to incidents that have occurred there and violations by the owners.
Another Rockingham man was charged in a 2015 shooting that left five people injured, according to an old report from WMBF.
