Trey Dean Wright, a 16-year-old male from Johnsonville, South Carolina, was a rising sophomore at Johnsonville High School and a varsity athlete in both football and baseball. He was known for his infectious smile and his love for the outdoors, often spending his time riding dirt bikes. His life was cut short on the night of June 24, when he was found with multiple gunshot wounds on First Neck Road in Florence County.
He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Trey's death quickly revealed a tragic story of a romantic rivalry that spiraled into a deadly confrontation. Authorities believe the incident stemmed from a dispute over a female. On the night of his death, Trey was allegedly lured to the rural road by his 17-year-old girlfriend, Gianna Kistenmacher. There, a group of teenagers awaited him, and a verbal altercation ensued. The confrontation escalated, and Trey was shot and killed. Some reports indicate that the incident was recorded on video by one of the teens present.
Within a day of the shooting, police arrested 19-year-old Devan Scott Raper of Conway, who is accused of being the one who pulled the trigger. He was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. In the following weeks, the investigation led to the arrests of numerous other teenagers, including Trey's girlfriend, Gianna Kistenmacher, who was charged with accessory before the fact to a felony, a charge that was later upgraded to murder. Other teens arrested and facing murder charges include 18-year-olds Corrine Belviso and Hunter Kendall, and 17-year-old Sydney Kearns. Several other minors were also charged, though their names have not been publicly released.
The prosecution is reportedly applying a legal principle known as 'the hand of one is the hand of all,' or accomplice liability, which is why multiple individuals are facing murder charges. Authorities state that those involved were complicit in bringing the armed suspect to the location, knowing a violent confrontation was likely. Devan Scott Raper and Hunter Kendall are being held without bond. Corrine Belviso and Sydney Kearns were granted bond and released pending trial. Gianna Kistenmacher was also released on bond to home confinement. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the devastating consequences of teenage disputes and violence.
