In the early morning hours of June 6, 2015, a dispute that began with words inside a nightclub in the Batesburg-Leesville area of Lexington County, South Carolina, escalated into deadly violence outside the establishment. William Tyrone Gantt, a 34-year-old male, was shot and killed in the ensuing gunfire. Another man was also wounded but survived his injuries.
The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. outside a club known as 'The Spot' located off Parrish Road.
An argument that started inside the club continued as two groups of people moved outdoors. Following what witnesses described as a brief verbal altercation stemming from a belief of disrespect, a barrage of gunfire erupted. Investigators later determined that a total of 34 rounds were discharged. William Tyrone Gantt was struck by five bullets and died at the scene from his wounds, which included a fatal shot to his lungs. The second victim sustained two gunshot wounds.
Lexington County Sheriff's investigators quickly began piecing together the events of that fatal morning. Their investigation led them to identify two primary suspects: Donavon Tirrell Brannon, then 26, of Batesburg, and Soli Shantrez Alejandro Robertson, then 20, of Winnsboro, who was also referred to as Shantrez Alejandro Robinson. Both men were arrested and subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder. Eyewitness testimony and cell phone data presented at trial placed both Brannon and Robertson at the scene and established a timeline of the shooting and their departure.
In November 2021, a jury found both men guilty. Donovan Tirrell Brannon, then 33, was sentenced to 34 years in prison. Soli Shantrez Alejandro Robertson, then 26, received a 32-year sentence. Under South Carolina law, neither man is eligible for parole. The prosecution argued that the sheer number of shots fired was evidence of 'malice aforethought,' and under the legal principle of 'Hand of one, Hand of all,' both men were held responsible for the death of William Tyrone Gantt and the injuries to the second victim. Following their convictions, Brannon and Robertson were transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin serving their sentences.
