In the late summer of 2023, the small community of Denmark, South Carolina, was rocked by a sudden act of violence that claimed the life of one of its own. James McCreary, a 48-year-old male, was fatally shot on Monday, August 7th, in an incident that unfolded on Cardinal Road. The Bamberg County Coroner's Office confirmed his identity after he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The shooting left the local community searching for answers as law enforcement began their investigation into the tragic event.
In the days following the shooting, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division worked diligently to piece together the events that led to McCreary's death. Their investigation quickly pointed to a single suspect, a man from the Midlands area of the state. With the help of a SLED K-9 unit, authorities were able to track down and apprehend 40-year-old Kurtino Damon Weathersbee of Blythewood. Weathersbee was taken into custody and booked at the Bamberg County Detention Center, bringing a swift, if not altogether comforting, development to the case.
Following his arrest, Kurtino Damon Weathersbee was charged with murder in connection with the death of James McCreary. In addition to the murder charge, he also faced accusations of possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to law enforcement, Weathersbee had used a 9mm handgun in the commission of the crime. While an arrest was made, a motive for the shooting was not immediately released to the public. The case was turned over to the 2nd Circuit Solicitor's Office for prosecution, leaving the friends and family of James McCreary, and the wider Denmark community, to await the due process of the legal system for a sense of finality and justice.
