William Whitaker Stewart, a 33-year-old Black male from Hilton Head, South Carolina, was fatally shot and killed on February 14, 2024, in Bluffton, South Carolina. The incident unfolded in the New Hope Village area, where police responded to reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers discovered Stewart and another man, 34-year-old Roshaun Middleton of Beaufort, both deceased from gunshot wounds.
Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene by police and emergency medical crews but were unsuccessful.
Investigators determined that one victim was found behind a building materials dealer with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower extremities, while the other was discovered behind a residence on Fuller Court with a gunshot wound to his head. It was later revealed that Stewart and Middleton were coworkers. The motive for the shooting has not been publicly released, and the investigation remains ongoing. Stewart is survived by his wife, Brandace Nicholle Stewart, and their two sons.
Shortly after the discovery of the victims, a Bluffton police officer noticed a gold-colored sedan leaving the area. The driver attempted to flee, colliding with a parked patrol car. A pursuit ensued, which ended when the fleeing vehicle struck another car on U.S. 278. The driver, identified as 33-year-old Orlando Odell Murphy of Bluffton, was taken into custody. Murphy was also a coworker of both Stewart and Middleton. He has since been charged with two counts of murder and illegal weapons possession in connection with the double homicide.
