In the summer of 2022, a promising young life was tragically cut short in Anderson, South Carolina. Shy’heem Kalil Clemons, a 19-year-old Black male, died on July 10, 2022, a day after being shot at the Anderson Mall. A graduate of T. L. Hanna High School, Clemons was a student at Greensboro College, where he was pursuing a degree in Engineering and was a member of the football team.
His aspirations were to play football at a Division I school and eventually reach the NFL.
The incident that led to his untimely death occurred on Saturday, July 9, 2022, when a confrontation with two individuals at the mall escalated, resulting in Clemons being shot in the head. He was immediately transported to Greenville Memorial Hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries the following day. The Anderson County Coroner's Office confirmed the cause of death. Friends and family remembered him as an ambitious and bright individual who was a stranger to none and had a smile that could light up a room.
In the wake of the shooting, an investigation was launched by the Anderson Police Department. This led to the arrest of 20-year-old Emilio Tyleekus Que Robinson, who turned himself in to the authorities. Robinson was subsequently charged with the murder of Shy’heem Clemons and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. It was reported that Robinson and Clemons were acquainted with each other, having both previously attended T.L. Hanna High School.
Following her son's death, Khalilah Gray, Clemons' mother, initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the owners of the Anderson Mall. The lawsuit alleged that the mall had inadequate security measures in place, citing a history of criminal activity at the location. The family and community continue to seek justice for the loss of a young man with a bright and promising future.
