In the late hours of a Sunday evening in Cheraw, South Carolina, the life of 27-year-old Daquan Malik Blanton, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. On August 11, 2024, at approximately 11:03 p.m., deputies from the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to 3 Malloy Street following reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered Blanton with a single gunshot wound to his upper right leg.
Emergency medical services were promptly called, and
Blanton was transported to McLeod Hospital in Florence for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The initial fun quiet of the neighborhood was shattered by an act of violence that would leave a lasting mark on the community.
The Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Chesterfield County Coroner's Office, immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. Their efforts quickly led to the identification of a suspect. Anthony Terell Waymyers II, a 22-year-old, was arrested in connection with Blanton's death. He was subsequently charged with murder and is being held at the Chesterfield County Detention Center. While an arrest has been made, authorities have continued to encourage anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward and contact their tip line.
In the wake of his death, those who knew Daquan Malik Blanton mourned the loss of a young life. A funeral service was held for him on August 24, 2024, at the Berea Baptist Convention Center, followed by his interment at the Word of Life Memorial Garden. The community was left to grapple with the senselessness of the violence that took him, remembering the man he was and the life he had yet to live.
