On June 3, 2019, a violent shootout erupted at a Circle K gas station on Sea Island Parkway in Beaufort, South Carolina, claiming the life of 20-year-old Clarence Mitchell III. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Lady's Island, just as a graduation ceremony was concluding at the nearby Beaufort High School. Mitchell, a Black male from St. Helena Island, was sitting in a vehicle when occupants of at least two cars began exchanging a high volume of gunfire.
Investigators later recovered more than 70 cartridge casings from the scene, indicating the intensity of the barrage that left Mitchell dead and another man injured.
Law enforcement officers from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation that eventually led to the identification of several suspects. In the days and months following the shooting, police arrested Montarious Brown, Dequarious Major, and Jeffrey Daquann Redd. All three men were charged with murder, three counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Authorities alleged that the shooting was not a random act of violence but a targeted attack involving a dispute between the groups. Additionally, a fourth individual, Ronald Moore, was charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the case.
The legal proceedings culminated nearly three years later when Jeffrey Redd stood trial in February 2022. Prosecutors argued that Redd had used an assault rifle to spray bullets into the gas station parking lot, specifically targeting the black Toyota Camry in which Mitchell was seated. The state presented witnesses and forensic evidence regarding the dozens of shots fired into the crowd and vehicles. However, the defense contended that there was insufficient evidence to prove Redd was the shooter, noting the chaotic nature of the scene and the lack of definitive video footage linking him to the weapon.
After a four-day trial and approximately six hours of deliberation, a Beaufort County jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all charges against Redd, including murder and attempted murder. Following this acquittal, reports indicated that the charges against the remaining co-defendants, Montarious Brown and Dequarious Major, were subsequently dropped, leaving the death of Clarence Mitchell III without a criminal conviction.
