In Ware Shoals, South Carolina, a vibrant car and bike show turned into a scene of tragedy on the evening of May 11, 2024, when 17-year-old Calvin Lamont Parker Jr. was fatally shot. The young man, a student at Greenwood High School, was attending the 'Best of Both Worlds' event at the Ware Shoals Dragway when the deadly incident unfolded around 8:30 p.m.
The sudden violence cut short the life of Parker, who was remembered as a student and a member of the Bailey Bethel A.M.E. Church.
His death left his family, including his mother, Tasheka Gary, and his young son, Kaizir Lamont Parker, to grapple with an unimaginable loss. The community was left in shock, with concerns rising about the safety of public gatherings.
In the wake of the shooting, law enforcement launched an investigation that quickly led to arrests. Authorities apprehended two individuals in connection with Parker's death. Kendrick Makins, 18, was arrested and charged with murder. Another suspect, Travis Dewayne Turner Jr., also faced charges of murder as well as possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Following his arrest, Kendrick Makins appeared in a Laurens County courtroom where a judge denied him bond. The family of Calvin Parker Jr. was present for the hearing, with his sister making an emotional plea for justice for her brother. Both Makins and Turner are in custody as the legal process moves forward. While arrests have been made, the specific details of what led to the shooting at the dragway remain under investigation.
