In the early morning hours of a December Saturday in Greenwood, South Carolina, a dispute between two men escalated into a fatal encounter. Samuel Raymond Wright, a 47-year-old man, was shot following an argument. The incident occurred near S.C. 72, where deputies, responding to a call about a shooting at approximately 2:20 a.m., discovered a crowd gathered around an unresponsive Wright. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during surgery at 4:43 a.m. on December 21, 2024.
Witnesses at the scene identified 23-year-old Bryson Thomas Long, also a resident of Greenwood, as the individual who had been in an argument with Wright just before the shooting. Following the incident, Long reportedly fled the area. Law enforcement conducted a search and located him as he was emerging from a nearby wooded area. He was taken into custody without incident.
Following his arrest, Bryson Thomas Long was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He is currently being held at the Greenwood County Detention Center. A judge denied bond for both charges, ensuring he remains in custody as the investigation into the death of Samuel Raymond Wright continues. The Greenwood County Sheriff's Office and the Coroner's Office are jointly investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. While an arrest has been made, authorities have not yet released information regarding the nature of the argument between Wright and Long or if the two men knew each other prior to the incident.
