A Black / African American male named Curtis Lamont Bomar, aged 21, had his life cut short during a chaotic sequence of events in Jonesville, South Carolina, on the night of May 23, 2020. The incident occurred amidst a massive gathering during the Memorial Day weekend, where a crowd estimated at nearly 1,000 people had assembled for a block party along Dover Road.
What began as a celebration across multiple homes eventually drew the attention of local law enforcement due to noise complaints and traffic congestion caused by hundreds of vehicles parked along the rural roadway.
Deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrived earlier in the evening, around 7:49 p.m., attempting to manage the sprawling crowd. They instructed the DJ to stop the music and began towing vehicles that were blocking the road. Despite the police presence and efforts to disperse the gathering, the atmosphere grew volatile as the night deepened. Shortly before 10:30 p.m., the festivities turned into a scene of panic when gunfire erupted. Reports indicated that shots were fired indiscriminately into the crowd, sending attendees fleeing into nearby woods and neighboring houses for safety.
In the midst of the mayhem, Curtis Bomar was struck by gunfire. Emergency responders faced significant challenges reaching the wounded due to the sheer number of people and the confusion at the scene. Bomar succumbed to his injuries that Saturday night before he could be transported to a hospital. He was not the only fatality; a 17-year-old named Jabbrie Brandon was also killed, dying later at a medical facility. The violence left five other individuals injured, some of whom were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.
The loss rippled through the community, particularly affecting those who knew Bomar as a young father to a seven-month-old daughter and a graduate of Dorman High School. Friends and family remembered him as an aspiring architect who was active in his church, New Life of Excellence. The sudden violence at what was supposed to be a celebratory holiday weekend left his loved ones struggling to comprehend the tragedy.
Following the shooting, investigators from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division worked to identify those responsible. The investigation revealed that multiple shooters may have been involved, with shots possibly fired from both vehicles and on foot. Authorities eventually arrested two suspects, Darnell Beacham and Shaquille Barbour, in connection with the incident. Both men faced charges related to the deaths of Bomar and Brandon, as well as the injuries sustained by the surviving victims, marking a significant turn in the pursuit of justice for the grieving families.
