In the late hours of a warm August evening in 2022, a dispute at the Lancaster Motor Speedway in South Carolina tragically ended the life of 53-year-old Rodney Cunningham. A Black male, Cunningham was working as a security guard at the speedway on Saturday, August 27th, when the incident unfolded. He was a married father of six and a grandfather of seven, remembered by his family as a kind and loving man.
The conflict began when Bryan Terrell Mitchell, a 37-year-old man from Rock Hill,
attempted to enter the speedway without the required wristband. Cunningham, in his capacity as security, denied him entry. This led to an altercation during which Mitchell, who witnesses described as agitated, drew a semi-automatic pistol and shot Cunningham multiple times. The shooting occurred near the front gate and ticket offices during the final race of the night. Despite immediate medical aid from bystanders and first responders, Cunningham was transported to the Medical University of South Carolina-Lancaster Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, a manhunt for Mitchell was launched by the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. He was apprehended the next morning at the Roselyn Housing Development. Mitchell was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.
In September 2025, Bryan Terrell Mitchell faced a jury for the murder of Rodney Cunningham. During the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from witnesses, including Mitchell's own brother-in-law who was at the scene. He testified that he saw Mitchell pull out a gun and shoot Cunningham. The defense argued that the shooting may have been in self-defense, suggesting Cunningham might have lost his balance and grabbed Mitchell. The jury, however, found Mitchell guilty of murder. He was sentenced to a total of 35 years in prison—30 years for the murder and five years for the firearm possession charge, with the sentences to run consecutively.
