On a day meant for celebration, Easter Sunday of 2023, tragedy struck in Orangeburg, South Carolina, forever altering the lives of one family. It was just before noon on April 9th when 15-year-old Dantavious Dowling, a male resident of Denmark, South Carolina, was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting at the Southern Lodge Hotel. The hotel is situated on St.
Matthews Road, a busy area near Interstate 26.
Responding to reports of gunfire, deputies from the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene to find a chaotic and heartbreaking situation. Dantavious had sustained gunshot wounds and, despite initial reports that he died at the scene, he was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The violent outburst also left two other young men injured. The sheriff's office later indicated that a red 2020 Honda Accord was involved in the drive-by attack.
In the wake of the shooting, the community and Dantavious's family were left reeling, searching for answers and calling for an end to senseless violence. Dantavious, a tenth-grader at Denmark-Olar High School, was remembered by his family as a loving person who did not deserve his fate. His mother and grandfather expressed their profound grief, stating he was an innocent bystander in the tragic event. The investigation into the motive for the shooting continued as authorities pieced together the events of that fatal morning.
Months after the tragic loss of a young life, the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office made headway in their investigation, leading to the arrests of two individuals. Eighteen-year-old Lervern Glover of Orangeburg was taken into custody and faced charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Additionally, 20-year-old Jalen Williams, also from Orangeburg, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, bringing a measure of hope for justice to a grieving family and community.
