In the small town of Greeleyville, South Carolina, a community gathering turned into a scene of tragedy on October 7, 2023. Dan Brock, a 62-year-old man from Sumter, was attending the C.E. Murray Alumni Festival when he was fatally shot. The incident unfolded in the evening, casting a dark shadow over what was meant to be a joyous homecoming celebration.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as a young man approached Brock and shot him in the neck before calmly walking away.
The Greeleyville Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies, immediately launched an investigation into the senseless act of violence. Security footage from a nearby bank captured the moments leading up to and following the shooting, corroborating the accounts of several eyewitnesses. The video showed a young Black male, dressed in a white t-shirt and blue jeans, carrying a gun at the festival. This individual was seen approaching Brock, firing the fatal shot, and then leaving the area in a gray Ford Mustang.
Investigators were able to identify a person of interest based on the surveillance footage and witness statements. Rome Bay Jr., a 20-year-old, was identified by his own father after viewing the security video. A search of the Bay residence uncovered three 9mm pistols. Ballistic testing later confirmed that one of these firearms was the weapon used in the murder of Dan Brock. A single 9mm shell casing found at the crime scene was matched to the weapon.
Following the investigation, Rome Bay Jr. was located and apprehended in Tennessee. He was extradited back to Williamsburg County, South Carolina, on January 28, 2024, to face charges for his alleged role in the shooting. Bay has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. During a court hearing, the prosecution described the shooting as a seemingly random act, stating that the suspect did not appear to know the victim. The family of Dan Brock, still grappling with their sudden and violent loss, has expressed their profound grief and desire for justice.
