In the early evening of January 4, 2023, the life of 53-year-old Nathaniel Eugene 'Gene' White III was brought to an abrupt and violent end in Lancaster, South Carolina. The incident unfolded at his residence on John Street, where he was found with gunshot wounds inside an outbuilding on the property. Despite the efforts of two women who were assisting him when authorities arrived, White succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
His death marked the first homicide in Lancaster County for the year.
Witnesses reported seeing a man enter the outbuilding shortly before the sound of gunshots rang out. This individual was then seen fleeing the structure with a handgun, getting into a waiting vehicle driven by another man, and leaving the area before law enforcement could arrive. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office immediately launched a homicide investigation into the shooting, which they soon determined was the result of an intended robbery.
The investigation led authorities to identify their first suspect, Corey Deonta Baker, Jr., a 24-year-old from York County. After a search involving multiple agencies, Baker was located and taken into custody on January 16, 2023. He was subsequently charged with murder, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a pistol. His bond was denied, and he was booked into the Lancaster County jail.
Further investigation into the events of that night led to a second arrest. Investigators concluded that 20-year-old Rickevious Debriek Durham, also of Rock Hill, was the driver of the getaway vehicle. After speaking with investigators, Durham was arrested and charged with murder and a gun crime. He, too, was held at the county detention center after being denied bond. The arrests brought a measure of progress in a case that had shaken the local community.
