In the quiet neighborhood of Rock Hill, South Carolina, friends and neighbors were jolted by the tragic death of Daryl Stewart, a Black male in his 30s, on the night of April 12, 2017. Officers arrived at his Carolina Avenue home around 11:30 p.m. to find him with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Those who knew Stewart described him as a kind man, always willing to lend a hand to his elderly neighbors with their yard work.
His sudden and violent death left the community in disbelief.
The investigation into Stewart's death quickly moved forward, and within a week, police arrested 25-year-old Brandon McMoore in connection with the shooting. It was later revealed that Stewart and McMoore were longtime friends. The events that led to the fatal shooting began inside Stewart's home where McMoore was visiting with others. McMoore started playing with a gun, which made Stewart angry.
An argument escalated between the two men, and Stewart reportedly went into a bedroom, stating he was going to get his own gun. When Stewart emerged from the bedroom, he was unarmed. McMoore then shot him six times, including twice in the back.
In April 2019, Brandon McMoore, then 27, accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He entered an Alford plea, not admitting guilt but acknowledging that the prosecution had enough evidence to likely secure a conviction at trial. McMoore was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the death of his friend. In court, he expressed his condolences to Stewart's family, stating, 'To the family of my friend Darryl Stewart, you have my utmost condolences.'
