In the summer of 2019, a tragic event unfolded in Abbeville, South Carolina, that claimed the life of 26-year-old Steven Travon Tinch. On Sunday, June 23, Tinch was at his grandmother's home when a shooting occurred, resulting in his death and the deaths of two of his family members. The incident cut short the life of a young man who was remembered as a humble, genuine, and beloved son, brother, and father.
He was a graduate of Abbeville High School and had been employed at Prysmian Cable and Electrolux.
The violence that erupted that day also took the lives of Tinch's grandmother, Shirley Jean Jones, who was 62, and his brother, Johntavier T. Moss, aged 24. Another individual, a neighbor who came to offer help, was also shot but survived the attack. This survivor was able to provide crucial information to investigators, identifying the person responsible for the deadly assault. The brutal nature of the crime was further highlighted by the detail that Moss initially survived and called 911, only to be shot again by the assailant while on the phone with dispatchers.
The investigation swiftly led to a suspect, Elijah Ty Rez Head. He was apprehended and faced multiple charges, including three counts of murder. In November 2020, Head, then 20 years old, pleaded guilty to murder and other charges related to the incident. He was subsequently sentenced to 50 years in prison for his role in the deaths of Steven Tinch, Shirley Jones, and Johntavier Moss. During the legal proceedings, a letter from Head was read in which he expressed remorse for the pain he caused the victims' families, stating, 'I made a horrible mistake that will eat at me the rest of my life.' Prosecutors accepted the plea deal to spare the families the further trauma of a trial.
