In the quiet town of Aiken, South Carolina, a tragic event unfolded on November 18, 2017, shattering the lives of two families. Harry A. Butler Jr., a 26-year-old Black man known affectionately as 'Lil Skip,' was fatally shot while sitting in a car in the Hahn Village housing complex on Bradby Lane. Alongside him, 28-year-old Logan Michael Novak also lost his life in the brutal double homicide that sent ripples of fear and grief through the community.
For months, the investigation into
the deaths of Butler and Novak languished, with no suspects identified and no arrests made. The case grew cold, leaving their loved ones in a painful state of limbo, desperate for answers and for justice. In an effort to generate new leads, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered a substantial $10,000 reward for any information that could lead to the capture of the person or persons responsible for this senseless act of violence. A billboard was also erected on Edgefield Highway, a constant and public plea for anyone with knowledge of the crime to come forward.
Finally, in June of 2018, a breakthrough in the case brought a glimmer of hope to the grieving families. The Aiken Department of Public Safety, in a collaborative effort with the 2nd Circuit Solicitor's Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the ATF RAGE task force, announced the arrest of a suspect. Anthony Tyron Price, a 26-year-old from the neighboring community of North Augusta, was taken into custody and charged with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. It was revealed that Price had a prior criminal history, including arrests for burglary, kidnapping, and drug possession. While the arrest marked a significant turning point in the investigation, authorities continued to appeal to the public for any additional information that could help ensure a thorough and just resolution to the case that had so deeply affected the Aiken community.
