In the late morning of a summer day in Charleston, South Carolina, the life of 30-year-old Christopher Mullen was brought to a violent and tragic end. On August 12, 2017, at approximately 8:40 a.m., Mullen was shot near the intersection of Line and Nassau streets. Having recently relocated to Charleston from Bluffton, he was just beginning a new chapter in his life. Emergency services transported him to the Medical University of South Carolina, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
A licensed barber and a devoted father to his young son, Layton, his sudden death left his family, including his loving mother Susan, in profound grief.
The Charleston Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts led to the identification and arrest of a suspect, 38-year-old Douglas LaVance Young of North Charleston. Young was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was held at the Al Cannon Detention Center as the legal process began to unfold. While the motive for the shooting was not widely publicized, the swift arrest brought a small measure of solace to a community shaken by the senseless violence that had claimed the life of a man known for his good soul and big heart.
The case against Douglas LaVance Young proceeded through the Charleston County court system. In December 2019, he faced a jury trial for the murder of Christopher Mullen. After the presentation of evidence and testimony, the jury found Young guilty of the charges brought against him. For the charge of murder, he was sentenced to a term of 50 years in prison. In addition, he received a concurrent sentence of five years for the weapons possession charge. The conclusion of the trial and the lengthy prison sentence for Young marked the final chapter in the legal proceedings, bringing a sense of justice for the untimely death of Christopher Mullen.
