In the quiet town of Scranton, South Carolina, a family gathering turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy, leading to the death of 11-year-old Zion Sharodrick Burgess on April 24, 2022. The young male, a student at Dewey L. Carter, was fatally shot at a home on Glendale Road. The incident unfolded when his uncle, Crandall Burgess, reportedly saw his cousin, Montarrio Graham, approaching the residence with what he believed to be a long gun.
Fearing for his safety, Crandall Burgess
went back inside his house and armed himself. Tragically, when his nephew Zion walked through the door, Crandall, mistaking him for Graham, fired his weapon. The single gunshot wound proved fatal for the young boy, who was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. The devastating event sent shockwaves through the small community, leaving a family to grapple with a profound and sudden loss.
In the aftermath of the shooting, both Crandall Burgess and Montarrio Graham were arrested. Crandall Burgess was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of his nephew. During a subsequent bond hearing, his attorney indicated an intention to have the charge reduced to involuntary manslaughter, arguing that the shooting was a tragic accident. Graham also faced charges related to the incident.
During the emotional bond hearing, which was attended by Zion's mother and grandmother, a judge set Crandall Burgess's bond at $10,000. Montarrio Graham was given a $20,000 bond and was to be placed on house arrest with electronic monitoring. The legal proceedings would continue to unfold, leaving a family and a community to mourn the senseless loss of a young life.
