On a tragic Valentine's Day in Bluffton, South Carolina, a shooting incident claimed the life of 34-year-old Roshaun Middleton, a Black male from Beaufort. The events of February 14, 2024, also resulted in the death of a second individual, 33-year-old William Stewart of Hilton Head. Both men were coworkers with the man who would be charged with their murders.
That afternoon, Bluffton police and Beaufort County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the area of Fuller Court following
multiple reports of gunfire. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene. One man was found with several gunshot wounds to his lower body, while another was located behind a nearby residence with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Despite the efforts of first responders, both Middleton and Stewart were pronounced dead at the scene.
A Bluffton police officer observed a gold sedan leaving the area and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Orlando Murphy of Bluffton, fled, initiating a police pursuit. During his attempt to escape, Murphy collided with a parked patrol car and another vehicle. The chase came to an end near the intersection of U.S. 278 and Buckwalter Parkway, where Murphy was taken into custody.
Following an investigation, Orlando Murphy was charged with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The South Carolina Highway Patrol also filed charges against him for leaving the scene of an accident. While the motive for the shooting has not been publicly released, authorities have confirmed that Murphy and the two victims were coworkers. Officials have stated that they are not seeking any other suspects and that there is no further threat to the community in relation to this incident.
