On the final night of the year, what should have been a time of celebration turned into a scene of tragedy in Little River, South Carolina. It was New Year's Eve, December 31, 2023, when 19-year-old K'Ron Eliah Fox was fatally shot at the Drinking Class Sports Bar and Grill. The establishment, located in the Waterway Plaza off Highway 9, became the backdrop for a violent encounter that also claimed the life of 20-year-old James Myron Bellamy and left two other individuals with
non-life-threatening injuries. While Bellamy was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, Fox died at the scene.
In the aftermath of the shooting, details emerged suggesting a history of concerns surrounding the now-closed establishment. A wrongful death lawsuit filed by K'Ron Fox's mother, Kalezza Fox, alleges that the bar's owners were aware of potential gang activity and other violent criminal acts on their premises prior to the deadly incident. The lawsuit contends that despite meetings with the Horry County Police Department to discuss these issues and a recommendation to increase the entry age for patrons, the owners failed to take adequate safety measures to protect their patrons. The suit names the bar, its former owners, the owner of the shopping plaza, and two unidentified 'John Doe' shooters as defendants.
Described as an intuitive, caring, and compassionate young man, K'Ron was known to be an introvert who became extroverted among those who brought him peace. He was a son, brother, uncle, nephew, and grandchild who was said to have a heart of genuine gold, often prioritizing the needs of others before his own. He found solace and an escape from reality through his passion for music and rapping. He cherished the time he spent with his family and friends in both North and South Carolina.
As of late 2025, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the shooting that cut short the lives of K'Ron Fox and James Myron Bellamy, leaving a community to grapple with the loss and a family to seek justice through the civil court system.
