In the coastal city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a tragic event unfolded within the walls of the Willow Run Apartments on the evening of November 4, 2024. A dispute between roommates escalated to a fatal conclusion, leaving one man dead and another facing a murder charge. The deceased was identified as 24-year-old Rictavio Thompson, a male originally from the Bahamas who was residing in the popular tourist destination.
Myrtle Beach Police were dispatched to the apartment complex on
Greens Boulevard around 8:40 p.m. following reports of a weapon being discharged. Upon their arrival at a second-floor apartment, they encountered a tense scene. A man was found crouching over another individual. That man, later identified as 28-year-old Leon East, was discovered to have sustained a gunshot wound to his torso. He was ordered to the ground floor along with four other individuals who were present as witnesses.
Inside the apartment, officers made a grim discovery. Rictavio Thompson was found deceased, having suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. According to the Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner, Thompson died at the scene. While the specific details of what led to the deadly confrontation remain unclear from initial reports, the investigation quickly focused on his roommate.
Following the incident, Leon East was taken into custody on November 15, 2024. He was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a deadly weapon in connection with Thompson's death. East is currently being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bail as the legal proceedings in this case commence.
