A tranquil evening on Hilton Head Island was shattered by gunfire on Thursday, February 19, 2026, leaving two people, including 62-year-old David Duffey, dead. The violent episode unfolded around 11:30 p.m. on Lark Street, where deputies, responding to reports of gunshots, discovered the bodies of Duffey and 50-year-old Catherine “Cassie” Warrington outside a home.
The male victim, David Duffey, had been a recent friend of those at the gathering, having been a guest at the short-term rental property for a few months.
The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Dustin Linsley of Bluffton, fled the scene following the shooting. Investigators were able to track his vehicle using license plate reader technology, which led them to a residence on Promenade Street in Bluffton. A tense standoff ensued as law enforcement established that a 56-year-old woman was inside the home with Linsley. After several hours of negotiation, the woman was able to exit the residence unharmed.
The confrontation reached its tragic conclusion in the early hours of the morning. Upon making entry into the home at approximately 4:40 a.m., deputies found Linsley deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the double murder-suicide, which they have described as a domestic incident. The community has been left to mourn the sudden and violent loss of three lives.
