On a September night in 2018, the life of 17-year-old Brandon Nathan Tyson, a male from Williamston, South Carolina, came to a tragic and violent end. The evening began like many teenage Friday nights, with Brandon and his friends attending a high school football game. After the game, the group of friends made their way to a home in Anderson County to continue their night.
Later in the evening, Brandon’s behavior reportedly took a drastic turn.
According to witness statements, he began acting erratically, smashing the windows of a garage door and throwing furniture. This commotion drew the attention of the adult homeowner, Mark Chastain, who was the father of one of Brandon's friends. An argument escalated into a physical altercation between the two. The homeowner sustained injuries to his face during the confrontation.
The altercation culminated in Mark Chastain fatally shooting Brandon Nathan Tyson. An autopsy would later confirm that Tyson died from a gunshot wound to the head and also had a superficial gunshot wound on his neck. Following the incident, the homeowner was taken to the intensive care unit for the injuries he sustained.
An investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. A toxicology report revealed the presence of psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana in Brandon's system at the time of his death. Ultimately, no criminal charges were filed against Mark Chastain in connection with the shooting. The incident was reportedly considered a case of self-defense under South Carolina's 'Castle Doctrine,' which allows individuals to use deadly force to protect themselves from intruders in their homes. While the criminal investigation concluded without charges, a civil lawsuit was filed against Mark Chastain, which was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
