In the early morning hours of March 15, 2021, the life of 34-year-old Donta Pearson of Laurel Hill, North Carolina, was tragically cut short. The male victim, who was Black/African American, was at the Ellison Club in McColl, South Carolina, and as the club was closing at approximately 2:08 a.m., he was shot in the parking lot. Pearson was rushed to Scotland Memorial Hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The incident left his family and community grieving a significant loss.
He was remembered for his close relationships with his family and his work in the manufacturing industry.
The investigation into Pearson's death quickly led law enforcement to a suspect. Security footage from the nightclub captured the shooting, identifying 26-year-old Deaundre Terrell Malachi of Bennettsville, South Carolina, as the individual who shot Pearson as he was exiting the establishment. Following the shooting, Malachi fled the scene in a vehicle, initiating a pursuit by law enforcement. During the high-speed chase, Malachi was observed throwing crack cocaine from the vehicle. He was apprehended by authorities later that same day.
Deaundre Terrell Malachi was subsequently charged with voluntary manslaughter, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. In a resolution to the case, Malachi pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. At the Marlboro County Courthouse, Circuit Court Judge Heath Taylor sentenced him to 28 years in prison for his role in the death of Donta Pearson and the associated crimes.
