On the night of January 22, 2022, a fatal encounter unfolded at The Estates apartments on Celanese Road in Rock Hill, South Carolina, resulting in the death of 26-year-old Deshawn Barnes. Police responded to reports of gunfire around 11:30 p.m. and discovered Barnes unresponsive with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbors reported that Barnes lived in the apartment complex with his mother.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that the incident was the
result of a drug deal that had been arranged through the social media app, Instagram. Surveillance footage from the scene was pivotal in the case, showing one of the suspects hiding behind a garbage bin before shooting Barnes. The investigation led to the identification and arrest of four suspects.
Three men were ultimately charged in connection with Barnes's death. Jaelon Devon Kelly, 21 at the time, and James Bernard Williams II, 19, were both charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a crime of violence, conspiracy to violate South Carolina's drug law, and first-degree possession of marijuana. Later, a third suspect, 23-year-old Joe Lemans Gore Jr., was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and attempted possession of a controlled substance after having fled the state following the shooting. Two juvenile females were also charged with conspiracy to violate the state's drug laws. In November 2024, Jaelon Devon Kelly pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and attempting to purchase marijuana. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Charges against the other individuals were still pending.
