On a chaotic Saturday night in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the life of 21-year-old Devonte Dantzler was cut short. On May 24, 2014, Dantzler, a male from Summerville, was caught in a burst of gunfire at the Bermuda Sands Motel. The shooting, which erupted around 11 p.m. in front of crowds of tourists, also claimed the lives of 28-year-old Jamie Williams of Ladson and 22-year-old Sandy Gaddis Barnwell of Summerville.
A fourth individual, Keith Williams, was wounded in the attack.
The violence unfolded during the annual Atlantic Beach BikeFest, a popular motorcycle rally that draws large crowds to the area. Witnesses reported a large fight breaking out on the sidewalk in front of the motel just moments before the gunshots rang out. According to police reports, Dantzler, Williams, and Barnwell had moved to the second floor of the motel after the altercation when multiple shots were fired in their direction. Dantzler and Jamie Williams were pronounced dead at the scene, while Barnwell succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The incident was part of a string of eight separate shootings that marred the Memorial Day weekend festivities that year.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement officials launched an intensive investigation into the triple homicide. The Myrtle Beach Police Department, in conjunction with the Summerville Police Department, worked to piece together the events of that fatal night and identify those responsible. Despite their efforts and public appeals for information, the case grew cold. No suspect or suspects were ever publicly named in the murders of Devonte Dantzler, Jamie Williams, and Sandy Gaddis Barnwell.
Years have passed since the shooting, yet the case officially remains an active and unsolved investigation. While an arrest was made in connection to another of the weekend's shootings, no one has been charged with the triple homicide at the Bermuda Sands Motel. The families of the victims have been left without closure, and the person or persons responsible for the deaths of the three young people have not been brought to justice. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, though it is believed to have stemmed from the initial street brawl.
