In the late summer of 2018, the small town of Gifford, South Carolina, was rocked by a grim discovery that left a family and community searching for answers. On August 27, first responders were called to a house fire, a blaze that ultimately revealed a scene of violence. Inside the home, authorities found the bodies of two men, both victims of a shooting.
One of the men was identified as Cornelius Barnwell, a 39-year-old male from the area.
Further investigation by the Hampton County Coroner's Office confirmed that Barnwell and the other victim, 29-year-old Jerrelle Campbell, had died from gunshot wounds. Their deaths were officially ruled as homicides, launching an extensive investigation into the double murder. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was called in to assist local authorities in processing the scene and pursuing leads in the case.
Cornelius Barnwell, known to his loved ones as 'Scooby,' was remembered as a father. Those who knew him described him as a friendly and funny man who loved to make others laugh. He was a father to four children. In the wake of his sudden and violent death, his family was left to grapple with the profound loss and the unsettling lack of resolution.
Despite the ongoing investigation into the deaths of Cornelius Barnwell and Jerrelle Campbell, information regarding any potential suspects or arrests has not been publicly released. The case has left a lingering shadow over the community, with the motive behind the killings and the identities of those responsible remaining unknown. The search for justice for Cornelius Barnwell and Jerrelle Campbell continues as their families await answers to the questions that have haunted them since that tragic day in August.
