Brandon Alexander Robinson, a 42-year-old Black man born in Youngstown, Ohio, was a father to five children and a grandfather of three. He was at his home in Conway, South Carolina, on the quiet evening of December 11, 2022, when his life was brought to a violent and sudden end.
That night, a man named Joe Gause had followed his ex-girlfriend to Robinson’s residence in the 200 block of Forest Loop Road. Gause went to the front door and pretended to be a DoorDash delivery driver.
When Robinson approached the door, Gause opened fire, shooting through the door and striking him at least four times before fleeing the scene. Neighbors in the usually quiet community later told reporters they heard about five gunshots. Robinson was fatally wounded in the attack.
The Conway Police Department’s investigation moved quickly, aided by a key witness inside the home. Gause's ex-girlfriend immediately identified him as the shooter to both emergency dispatchers and the first responders who arrived at the scene. Based on her identification, authorities sought out their suspect.
Two days later, on December 13, 2022, police arrested Joe Gause, a 30-year-old man from the nearby city of Loris. He was taken to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center and charged with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
A week before his trial was scheduled to begin, the case reached its conclusion. On August 4, 2025, Joe Gause, then 33, pleaded guilty to the murder of Brandon Robinson. A judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison, a day-for-day sentence meaning he must serve the entire term. An assistant solicitor for the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office thanked Robinson’s family for their presence throughout the case and their impactful statements at the sentencing, hoping the outcome would bring them a sense of closure as of August 2025.
