Michael Anthony Giddens, a 25-year-old male, was fatally shot on Friday, January 10, 2014, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The incident occurred at a residence on Cedar Grove Lane where Giddens was staying with friends. He was shot multiple times and succumbed to his injuries at Piedmont Medical Center. Family members described him as a loyal person and a talented tattoo artist.
The investigation quickly led to the identification of three suspects.
Two teenagers, 17-year-old Dontavion White and 16-year-old Maurice Burris, turned themselves in to the police on the Monday following the shooting. Both were students at Rock Hill's alternative school. The third and final suspect, Abdul Emmanual, also turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday. All three were charged with murder, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, and weapons violations. A fourth individual, Lattoya St. Hill, was later arrested for allegedly helping Burris and White flee to Charlotte after the murder.
The motive for the shooting was revealed to be a botched drug deal that escalated into an armed robbery. During the incident, Giddens was reportedly holding a sawed-off shotgun. Abbdul Omar Emmanuel, who was 20 years old at the time of his sentencing, was identified as the shooter. Prosecutors stated that Emmanuel set up the robbery and shot Giddens during the commission of the crime. Neighbors reported seeing one of the suspects chasing Giddens down the street with a gun shortly before the shooting occurred inside the house. Investigators found three. 45-caliber shell casings at the scene. A blue SUV, which the suspects were seen leaving in, was later found abandoned with the handgun inside.
In July 2014, Abbdul Omar Emmanuel pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other charges related to the shooting death of Michael Giddens, as well as other violent crimes. In September of that year, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Prosecutors described Emmanuel as a member of the 715 Fam gang and one of Rock Hill's most violent criminals, with a criminal history dating back to when he was 13. During the sentencing, Emmanuel expressed remorse, claiming he only shot Giddens to protect a friend after Giddens allegedly pointed the shotgun at one of the robbers. However, prosecutors maintained that Emmanuel orchestrated the robbery. The two teenage accomplices, Dontavion White and Maurice Burris, were also charged in connection with the crime.
