In the small town of Bowman, South Carolina, the life of 42-year-old Stephan Harley was cut short on February 3, 2022. On that day, officers from the Bowman Police Department responded to a call on Rail Street, where they found Harley on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation into the shooting was subsequently handed over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at the request of the local police chief.
The ensuing
investigation led authorities to a suspect, 36-year-old Kamel Daquan Thomas of Orangeburg. Interestingly, Thomas was also injured in the incident, having sustained gunshot wounds himself. After leaving the scene of the shooting in his vehicle, he was later found on Charleston Highway in Orangeburg and had to be airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, SLED agents arrested Thomas.
Kamel Daquan Thomas was charged with the murder of Stephan Harley and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Orangeburg County Detention Center. The case was slated to be prosecuted by the First Circuit Solicitor's Office. While an initial court appearance was scheduled for April of 2022, information regarding a trial, potential conviction, or any further legal proceedings in this case has not been made publicly available. The motive for the fatal shooting also remains undisclosed.
Stephan Harley was remembered by his family and community as a beloved individual. He was a husband and a father to two children. His death left a significant void in the lives of those who knew him, as they mourned the sudden and violent loss of a man described as a cherished member of the Bowman community.
