In the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 17, 2024, the life of 43-year-old Tyronda Bellamy was tragically cut short in her home on Alice Drive, just outside of Loris, South Carolina. A verbal argument with her longtime boyfriend, Kenyarta Trayeli Smith, escalated to a fatal conclusion, leaving a community in mourning and a family devastated by the sudden loss.
Authorities were dispatched to the residence around 5:30 a.m. following a report of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Ms. Bellamy in a back bedroom, having sustained a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services confirmed that she was deceased at the scene. An investigation into the shooting revealed a history of domestic discord that culminated in this violent act.
According to arrest warrants, 33-year-old Kenyarta Trayeli Smith admitted to police that he squeezed the trigger of a 9mm handgun multiple times, shooting Bellamy after they had been in a verbal altercation. The evidence suggested that Bellamy was shot from behind. Smith and Bellamy had been in a relationship and had lived together for eight years. He was taken into custody and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Due to his past criminal history, Smith was not legally permitted to own a handgun. He is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center without bail.
Tyronda Sherrill Bellamy, born on September 22, 1980, was remembered as a vibrant and loving individual who was always the life of the party. A graduate of Miller Motte College, she had a passion for singing and dancing, with Michael Jackson being her favorite artist. She is survived by her parents, six children, and eight grandchildren, as well as a sister, a brother, and a wide circle of family and friends who cherished her. Her sudden and violent death has left a profound void in the lives of those who knew and loved her.
