In the early morning hours of November 14, 2023, the life of 32-year-old Tonny Swinnie was tragically cut short in the parking lot of the Marlboro Court apartments on Oakwood Street in Bennettsville, South Carolina. Swinnie, a Black male, was discovered with gunshot wounds around 8 a.m. and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The incident sent ripples of shock and grief through the Bennettsville community, where he was known.
An autopsy was scheduled to be performed later that week to officially determine the cause of his death.
The Bennettsville Police Department moved swiftly in their investigation, quickly identifying a person of interest. Their efforts led to the arrest of 26-year-old Jamell Dayquan Malik Williams. Authorities reported that Swinnie and Williams were acquaintances, although the specific motive that led to the fatal shooting remains a subject of the ongoing investigation. Williams was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, facing the legal consequences of the morning's violent events.
In the wake of his untimely passing, family and friends of Tonny Swinnie gathered to mourn their loss. His funeral services were handled by McNeill Funeral Home and held in Rockingham, North Carolina, providing a space for those who knew him to honor his memory. As the legal process against Jamell Dayquan Malik Williams proceeds, the community continues to seek answers and justice for a life taken too soon. Authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information regarding the case to come forward and assist the Bennettsville Police Department.
