On the night of May 23, 2020, a large block party in Jonesville, South Carolina, tragically turned deadly, claiming the life of 17-year-old Jabbrie Brandon, a Black male from the nearby city of Union. The gathering, which had drawn an estimated 1,000 people to Dover Road, was already on the radar of the Union County Sheriff's Office due to noise complaints earlier in the evening.
Deputies had responded to the scene to address the disruptions and manage the significant number of vehicles lining the roadways.
Around 10:30 p.m., the festive atmosphere was shattered by the sound of gunfire. In the ensuing chaos, multiple people were struck. Jabbrie Brandon was critically injured and rushed to a local hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his wounds. The violence of that night also resulted in the death of another young man, 21-year-old Curtis Lamont Bomar of Spartanburg. Five other individuals were wounded in the shooting, adding to the turmoil and tragedy of the event.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Union County Sheriff's Office launched an intensive investigation. Their efforts led to the arrest of two men in connection with the incident. Darnell Deandre Beacham, 35, of Buffalo, and Shaquille Obryant Barber, 26, of Jonesville, were taken into custody. Initially, Beacham was charged with public disorderly conduct, while Barber faced the same charge in addition to a charge of unlawful carrying of a handgun. At the time of their arrest, law enforcement officials indicated that more severe charges, potentially including homicide and attempted murder, could be forthcoming as the investigation progressed. However, further details regarding the outcome of these potential charges or any subsequent convictions have not been made publicly available. The community was left to mourn the senseless loss of two young lives, with the full measure of justice in the case remaining unclear.
