On a summer evening, a large block party in Rock Hill, South Carolina, turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy, claiming the life of 21-year-old Maricus Dontae Kirk. The gathering, which took place on June 1, 2024, on Southland Drive, had drawn a crowd of approximately 500 people. Late in the evening, around 10 p.m., a fight erupted, shattering the festive atmosphere with the sound of gunfire.
When the shooting stopped, four people had been hit.
Maricus Kirk, a young man from nearby Lancaster, was one of two individuals who suffered fatal injuries and died at Piedmont Medical Center. The other victim was a 44-year-old woman named Montest Mincey. Two other people, a 25-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, were also wounded but survived. Reports suggest that the victims who lost their lives were innocent bystanders, caught in the crossfire of a dispute they were not involved in.
In the days that followed the shooting, an investigation led to several arrests. Police apprehended 19-year-old D'markieoun Clyburn, who was charged with the murders of both Maricus Kirk and Montest Mincey. Authorities also took three other young men into custody on charges related to Mincey's death. Quantrel Jaheim Barrino, aged 18, Tyquarious Queoveon Davis, 24, and Marques Lavon Pearson, 20, were all charged with being an accessory to murder.
While the charges against Clyburn encompassed both fatalities, the specific charges against the other three suspects were announced in connection with the death of Montest Mincey. The investigation by the Rock Hill Police Department continued as they worked to piece together the events of that fatal night and determine the exact roles of each individual involved in the deadly shooting.
