In the early hours of Memorial Day on May 25, 2020, the life of 24-year-old Cedric Demond Elmore Jr., a Black male from Greenwood, South Carolina, was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting in Myrtle Beach. The incident occurred in a parking lot off the bustling South Ocean Boulevard, near 15th Avenue South, a popular tourist area. Elmore was found by Myrtle Beach police who were responding to reports of the shooting at approximately 12:40 a.m.
His death was ruled a homicide by the Horry County Coroner's Office.
The investigation into Elmore's death quickly led to a suspect, Kemian Masonte' Reese, who was also 24 years old and from Greenwood. Reese was taken into custody shortly after the shooting and was subsequently charged with murder, unlawful carry of a weapon, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Reports indicated that Reese had a prior criminal record which included convictions for drug charges and unlawful carry of a weapon. The shooting was one of several violent incidents that had recently plagued the tourist destination.
In July of 2021, Kemian Reese pleaded guilty to the charge of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Cedric Elmore Jr. Following his plea, a judge sentenced Reese to 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole. During the court proceedings, Elmore's family expressed their gratitude to the Myrtle Beach Police Department for their work in bringing the case to a close. Elmore was remembered as a beloved son, father of a son and daughter, and brother.
