On the night of September 12, 2020, a violent incident unfolded in Great Falls, South Carolina, resulting in the untimely death of Martimothy Pratray McIlwain. Around 11:30 p.m., local authorities received reports of a shooting on Chester Avenue, located near a local bar and nightclub establishment. First responders arrived at the scene to find McIlwain, a 33-year-old Black male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
despite the immediate response from the Great Falls Police Department, Chester County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and agents from the State Law Enforcement Division, McIlwain succumbed to his injuries. The Chester County Coroner pronounced him dead shortly after the shooting occurred, marking a tragic end to the evening.
Following the homicide, a multi-agency investigation was launched to identify those responsible for the violence. Law enforcement officials worked through the night and into the following morning collecting evidence from the crime scene. The inquiry eventually led to the identification of a suspect, Kenneth Xavier Redfern Jr., a man from Baltimore, Maryland, who was subsequently taken into custody and charged with murder in connection with McIlwain's death. The case proceeded through the legal system, culminating in a trial held at the Chester County Courthouse nearly two years later.
In May 2022, a jury heard the evidence presented by the prosecution and the defense regarding the events of that September night. After a four-day trial, the jurors returned a unanimous verdict, finding Redfern not guilty of the murder charge. His defense attorney stated that Redfern had maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. Although he was acquitted in the McIlwain case, reports indicated that Redfern was not released from custody immediately following the verdict due to pending charges related to a separate, unrelated homicide case in Chester County that had occurred months prior to the shooting in Great Falls.
Beyond the legal proceedings, the loss was deeply felt by McIlwain’s large family and the surrounding community. A resident of Lancaster, he was remembered as a father to seven children, including two daughters and five sons, as well as a brother and life companion. Friends and relatives gathered to pay their final respects during a graveside service held on September 22, 2020, at Lancaster Memorial Park. The service was officiated by local ministers, offering a moment of closure for those mourning his sudden passing, even as the criminal case later concluded without a conviction for his death.
