In what began as a transaction initiated on Craigslist, a 29-year-old man, Tycus Metricus Toland, of North, South Carolina, was tragically shot and killed on April 26, 2014. The fatal encounter unfolded at a residence on Bushberry Road in Pelion, where Tycus had accompanied his older brother, Vonkeith Toland, 33, to sell a vehicle.
The brothers had arranged to meet two prospective buyers who responded to their online advertisement.
The two men, later identified as Justin Antonio Butler, 22, of Alabama, and Terry Renee McClure, 26, of California, met the Toland brothers in the nearby town of North and then followed them back to Vonkeith's home to inspect the car. Shortly after arriving, the meeting turned violent. As they were discussing the purchase, McClure unexpectedly pulled out a gun and shot Tycus in the back of the head, killing him instantly in the front yard. McClure then turned the weapon on Vonkeith, shooting him multiple times in the backyard.
Following the shootings, Butler, who was also armed, and McClure ransacked Vonkeith Toland's home before fleeing the scene. Despite being critically injured, Vonkeith managed to crawl under his house until the assailants left. He then dragged himself to his car and called 911. Vonkeith spent weeks in the hospital in critical but stable condition and ultimately survived his injuries. His testimony would prove crucial in the subsequent investigation and trials.
Investigators, aided by cell phone records, were able to identify Butler and McClure as the primary suspects. A little over two weeks after the murder, Justin Antonio Butler was apprehended in Alabama. Terry Renee McClure was located in California, where he was being held on unrelated charges, and was subsequently extradited to South Carolina. Both men were charged with murder, attempted murder, first-degree burglary, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
In June 2016, a Lexington County jury found Justin Antonio Butler guilty of murder, attempted murder, first-degree burglary, and a weapons charge. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison. During his trial, Butler initially denied being in South Carolina but later changed his story, admitting he was at the scene but claiming he remained in the rental car during the shootings. In a separate trial in October 2019, Terry Renee McClure was also convicted of murder and attempted murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
