On January 2, 2020, a violent tragedy struck the community of Lake City, South Carolina, claiming the life of 21-year-old Antwan McKnight, a Black / African American male. The young man, known affectionately to friends and family by the nickname "21 Curly," became the victim of a fatal shooting that marked a particularly dark day for the small town.
Reports from the time indicated that his death was the result of the second shooting incident to occur in Lake City within a short window, suggesting a sudden flare of gun violence in the area.
Despite the immediate response by local law enforcement to the scene, the investigation into McKnight's death has faced significant challenges in identifying those responsible. In the years following the slaying, no suspects have been publicly named, and police have not announced any arrests or filed charges specifically connected to his murder. The case appears to have gone cold, leaving his loved ones without the closure of a criminal trial or a conviction.
While other violent crimes from the same period in Lake City have eventually seen breakthroughs, with arrests made in separate homicide cases from late 2019 and subsequent years, Antwan McKnight's killing remains unsolved. His name continues to be listed among the open homicide investigations in South Carolina, standing as a somber reminder of a life cut short and a justice system that has yet to hold a perpetrator accountable for his untimely death.
