Christopher Jamal Burton, a 28-year-old Black male from Beaufort, South Carolina, was the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred in the early autumn of 2025. The incident took place on the evening of Monday, September 29, at the Cross Creek Plaza located at 330 Robert Smalls Parkway. Police officers were dispatched to the scene shortly before 9 p.m.
following reports of gunfire at the shopping center, which houses businesses such as Planet Fitness, Belk, and a Walmart.
Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered Burton in the parking lot near a Little Caesars Pizza. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Officers on the scene attempted life-saving measures before he was transported by emergency medical services to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. The Beaufort County Coroner's Office subsequently identified him as the victim of the homicide.
The investigation into the shooting was led by the Beaufort Police Department. Investigators noted that while no other injuries were reported, the exterior wall of the nearby Little Caesars sustained damage from the gunfire. As of early October 2025, authorities had not announced any arrests or identified any specific suspects in connection with the case. Police urged anyone with information to contact investigators or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County.
Burton was the son of Deacon Robert and Jennifer Burton and was a resident of the Burton area of Beaufort County. His funeral arrangements were entrusted to Allen Funeral Home, with services held in early October. The local community and family members mourned his untimely passing, as law enforcement continued their search for answers regarding the violent event that claimed his life.
