In the late hours of a Saturday in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a dispute escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of a man known to his community as 'Pee Wee.' Arthur James McCoy Jr., a 47-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on September 16, 2023. The incident unfolded just before 11 p.m. at a residence on Roddey Street, where police were dispatched following reports of gunfire.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered McCoy on the ground, suffering from gunshot wounds to his
abdomen. He was rushed to a local hospital for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Investigators determined that the shooting stemmed from an argument involving another individual. McCoy had reportedly intervened in this dispute, a decision that tragically placed him in the line of fire.
The ensuing investigation quickly identified a suspect, 44-year-old Quadir Sharyf Baxter. In the wake of the shooting, Baxter fled the scene, prompting the Rock Hill Police Department to issue warrants for his arrest on charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The search for Baxter was short-lived, as he voluntarily surrendered to authorities at the Rock Hill Law Center at approximately 1 p.m. on the following Monday, September 18, 2023.
Following his arrest, Baxter was charged in connection with McCoy's death. He appeared in Rock Hill Municipal Court where he was denied bail and subsequently booked into the York County Detention Center. The community was left to mourn the loss of Arthur 'Pee Wee' James McCoy Jr., a man who lost his life while attempting to de-escalate a conflict.
