In the small town of Allendale, South Carolina, a tragic event unfolded on a summer evening that left the community in mourning. On Saturday, July 22, 2023, 25-year-old Parris Lee, a female, was fatally shot at the Tiger Express gas station on East Railroad Avenue. Another woman, 34-year-old Herrinda D. Murdaugh, also lost her life in the same incident.
According to reports, the shooting occurred at the Exxon gas station, a familiar landmark in the close-knit town.
Lee was discovered partially inside a vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. Murdaugh was found next to the vehicle and succumbed to her injuries at the Allendale County Hospital. The violence of the act sent ripples of shock and fear through the community, where many residents are interconnected through family and long-standing relationships.
The day after the shooting, a 22-year-old Allendale resident named Tyquaveon Isaiah Hartzog turned himself into the Allendale Police Department. He also reportedly surrendered the pistol that was used in the fatal shootings. Authorities charged Hartzog with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Surveillance footage from the gas station played a role in the investigation, showing Hartzog exiting a Chevrolet Equinox with a gun in his hand. A witness stated that Hartzog had been in the backseat of the vehicle with the victims at the time of the shooting. During questioning, Hartzog claimed that he acted in self-defense, though further details of his motive were not immediately made public. He was subsequently booked at the Allendale Detention Center.
