A night of entertainment turned into a scene of tragedy at a Myrtle Beach bingo parlor, leaving a father and son dead and a community in mourning. Stephen 'Steve' Johnson Sr., 73, and his son, Stephen 'Sparky' Johnson Jr., 46, both of Sumter, South Carolina, were fatally shot during an attempted armed robbery on a Friday evening in late July 2019. The two men were the owners of Waccamaw Bingo, located in the Belle Terre Plaza off U.S.
Highway 501.
The incident unfolded when a man, his face obscured by a white cloth, entered the bingo hall and demanded money. In the ensuing chaos, both Stephen Sr. and his son were shot. Witnesses described a harrowing scene, with one patron attempting to tackle the gunman before he escaped. Despite the efforts of those present to render aid until emergency services arrived, both Johnsons succumbed to their gunshot wounds. The initial police description of the suspect was of a Black man wearing gray clothing.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to two suspects from Georgetown, South Carolina: Derrick Rivera and Bradford Britton. Within days of the shooting, Britton was taken into custody after a vehicle connected to the crime was found at his residence. Rivera was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Marshals. Both men were charged with two counts of murder and two counts of armed robbery. Rivera faced additional charges of possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a weapon by a felon.
In October 2021, Derrick Rivera stood trial for the murders. Prosecutors presented evidence identifying him as the gunman who entered the bingo hall and fatally shot the Johnsons. After a trial, a jury found Rivera guilty on two counts of murder and armed robbery. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison, plus an additional 30 years. Following his conviction, Rivera filed an appeal in late 2024 seeking to have his sentence overturned.
The second suspect, Bradford Britton, who was identified as the driver of the getaway car, entered a guilty plea to the lesser charges of accessory after the fact to murder and attempted armed robbery in October 2021. Information regarding his specific sentence following the plea has not been publicly detailed.
