In the small community of Ridgeland, South Carolina, Anthony Jarvis King Jr., known affectionately as 'A.J.', was a familiar and well-loved figure. Born on November 19, 1989, in Beaufort, he was a young man of 25 who had spent his life in Ridgeland, attending the local Jasper County public schools. Those who knew him remembered a cheerful, respectful, and quiet individual with a radiant smile. An athletic person, he had a passion for basketball and was also a talented drummer.
His willingness to help anyone in need endeared him to many in the community.
The night of November 11, 2014, brought a tragic and abrupt end to a promising life. A brawl erupted outside a dance club in Ridgeland, spilling into the parking lot of a nearby 7-Eleven. In the ensuing chaos, Anthony was shot once in the head and once in the arm. The violence of that night left the community in shock and his family engulfed in profound grief. His funeral was held on November 17, 2014, at the Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Center, where a large gathering of family and friends came to mourn their loss and celebrate his life.
The investigation into Anthony's murder led to the arrests of two individuals, Sheena Latoya Bailey and Ira Anderson. Anderson was identified as the person who fired the fatal shots, and Bailey was accused of driving the getaway vehicle. Both were charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. In the subsequent legal proceedings, Ira Anderson was found guilty of second-degree murder and the firearm offense. Sheena Latoya Bailey's case was severed for a separate trial.
