In the winter of 2019, the life of 26-year-old Jamal Gladden was cut short in Lancaster, South Carolina. On the night of Saturday, February 9th, a gathering at a home on East Arch Street turned tragic. Gunshots shattered the party's atmosphere, leaving Gladden with fatal injuries behind the residence. The Lancaster County Coroner's Office later confirmed his identity and the cause of death as a result of the shooting.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement identified a suspect,
29-year-old Michael C. Chavis Jr. a Black male, described as being 6 feet tall and weighing 165 pounds. Police warned that Chavis should be considered armed and dangerous and sought public assistance in locating him. Warrants were issued for his arrest on charges of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. Witnesses at the party reported that Chavis had been inside the house, opened a door, and fired at Gladden who was outside.
For six months, Chavis remained at large, prompting a manhunt involving the Lancaster Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The search came to a close on Saturday, August 3, 2019, when Chavis voluntarily surrendered to authorities by walking into the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Following his arrest, he was booked into the county jail and a judge denied him bond, ensuring he would remain in custody as he awaited legal proceedings for the slaying of Jamal Gladden.
