In a tragic turn of events on January 13, 2024, 24-year-old Ryan James Andrew Johnson of Beaufort, a hardworking arborist known for his love of cars and music, was fatally shot in Ridgeland, South Carolina. The incident unfolded near Preschool Road after Johnson became upset when an ATV, driven by 28-year-old Dillon Wayne Seagraves, cut through his yard.
Johnson got into his car to pursue the ATV. Shortly after, witnesses reported hearing gunfire.
Johnson was later discovered in the driver's seat of his car on the main road, having been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initially, no suspects were publicly identified, leading Johnson's family to plead for help in solving the case. However, a witness eventually came forward, telling Jasper County Sheriff's Office investigators that Seagraves had confessed to the shooting. During the investigation, Seagraves admitted to owning the firearm used in the incident, though he claimed to have discarded it afterward.
Dillon Wayne Seagraves of Tillman Road was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. In May 2025, he was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with 15 years to be served as an active sentence, followed by five years of probation. Seagraves had no prior criminal record.
