In the quiet, early moments of a Monday morning in Summerville, South Carolina, the life of Joe Brown Weaver IV, a 47-year-old white male, was violently cut short. On January 28, 2019, what began as a night winding down turned into a scene of tragedy when four men broke into his home on Myrtle Place. The intruders, armed and intent on robbery, shattered the peace of the residence, ultimately shooting and killing both Weaver and his dog.
Another man present in the house was also shot but survived.
The events unfolded just after midnight, prompting a neighbor to make a frantic 911 call reporting the home invasion and the shootings. The suspects fled the scene in a dark-colored Honda CRV, but their escape was short-lived. Alerted by the emergency dispatch, police officers in the vicinity quickly spotted the speeding vehicle and initiated a pursuit. The chase extended from Dorchester County into neighboring Colleton County, where law enforcement successfully used stop sticks to bring the vehicle to a halt.
Following the chase, four individuals from Beaufort County were apprehended. The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Polo Keoki Salazar, 21-year-old Muanah Aruna Fortune Jr., 20-year-old Elijah Quinlin Green, and 25-year-old Devonte Trevon Major. During the pursuit, the men reportedly discarded four guns and Weaver's wallet, all of which were later recovered by authorities. Investigators determined that the Honda CRV used in the commission of the crime had been stolen from Walterboro.
The four men faced a litany of serious charges, including murder, attempted murder, first-degree burglary, armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, possession of a stolen vehicle, and ill-treatment of animals. During the investigation, at least two of the suspects admitted to entering the home with the intent to steal and confirmed that all four were armed. A judge subsequently denied bond for all four men.
