In the early morning hours of a July weekend in Bennettsville, South Carolina, tragedy struck at a local nightclub, forever altering the lives of many. Lancetausha Pouncy, a 28-year-old female, was at 'The Spot' nightclub on U.S. 15-401 when gunfire erupted around 2:35 a.m. on Sunday, July 24, 2022. In the chaos that ensued, Pouncy and three other individuals were struck by bullets. Private vehicles rushed the four victims to nearby hospitals, but Pouncy ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The other victims were left in serious condition.
The Marlboro County Sheriff's Office immediately launched an investigation, calling in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to process the crime scene. Investigators began the arduous task of piecing together the events of that fatal night. Their efforts led to a series of arrests in the days and weeks that followed. Six individuals were eventually taken into custody in connection with the shooting. The suspects were identified as Ra-Kem Dal-Von Townsend, 28; Cody Wayne Erwin, 21; Atais Ja Ni Taylor, 25; D Shiem Tymaude Mcclean, 25; Omarion Fair, 20; and Javonte Barris Rolling C., 27, all from Bennettsville.
The initial charges against the group of men included attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Some of the suspects faced additional charges. Cody Wayne Erwin, for instance, was also charged with unlawful carry of a pistol and possession with intent to distribute marijuana after a firearm and more than an ounce of marijuana were allegedly found in his possession at the time of his arrest. Javonte Barris Rolling C. faced an additional charge of discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle. The suspects were booked into the Marlboro County Detention Center, and bond was denied for at least two of them, Townsend and Erwin.
A significant development in the case came later when the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office received an analysis report from SLED. The evidence presented in the report led to an elevated charge for one of the suspects. Cody Wayne Erwin, also known as 'Loaf,' was subsequently charged with the murder of Lancetausha Pouncy. The legal proceedings have been emotionally charged, with a notable incident occurring during a court hearing where a member of Pouncy's family became disorderly and had to be subdued by law enforcement with a stun gun, leading to their arrest after a brief struggle.
