In the early hours of a Friday morning in Greenville County, South Carolina, the life of 30-year-old Norris Shawndra Bates was tragically cut short. On November 16, 2018, at approximately 12:45 a.m., a dispute inside the Swagg Bar and Grill escalated into deadly violence. During the altercation, Bates sustained a gunshot wound. He was rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries at around 9:40 a.m.
that same morning.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led authorities to a suspect. Timathius Lewers, then 32 years old, was identified as the individual involved in the altercation with Bates. Investigators located Lewers at a residence on Pine Creek Court Extension. They discovered that he had sustained a minor, self-inflicted gunshot wound to his leg shortly after the initial incident at the nightclub. After receiving medical treatment for his injury, Lewers was taken into custody by the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
Following his release from the hospital, Timathius Lewers was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in connection with the death of Norris Bates. He was subsequently booked into the Greenville County Detention Center to await legal proceedings. An autopsy was performed to officially determine the cause and manner of Bates' death, confirming he died from the gunshot wound sustained in the altercation. The case then moved into the judicial system for prosecution, aiming to bring a resolution to the tragic events that transpired at the Greenville nightclub.
