Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
The Exxon gas station in Allendale was the scene of a shooting on July 22.
On Saturday, July 22, two of Allendale’s own — Parris Lee, 25, and Herrinda D. Murdaugh, 34 — died in a shooting at the Tiger Express on East Railroad Avenue.
According to arrest warrants released by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the suspect, Tyquaveon Isaiah Hartzog, 22, of Allendale, turned himself in to the Allendale Police Department. He is charged with two counts of Murder, and Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime.
Surveillance footage aided law enforcement in their investigation, according to reports from SLED.
In rural South Carolina communities like Allendale, gun violence is a persistent issue. According to research done by Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control, gun violence is more frequent in rural areas with high poverty levels.
Dawan Smith, Allendale Town Council member and mayor pro-tem, said that as someone who grew up in Allendale, he has seen the great concern and fear that members of the community have towards gun violence.
“Everybody [in Allendale] is kin to everybody, or knows everybody,” Smith said. “It’s personal. … It doesn’t just affect one or two individuals. The ones that are the victims, they are somebody’s child.”
According to Allendale County Coroner Renique Riley, Lee was pronounced dead at the scene, while Murdaugh died at the Allendale County Hospital. The suspect, who claimed the shooting was done in self-defense, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Smith said that as an elected official, he feels frustration towards what is happening in the Allendale community.
“My prayer is that we pull together as a community and instead of pointing the finger, let’s come up with a resolution,” Smith said. “Let’s come up with something that we can work towards to make our town safe. I’m willing to help out in whatever way I can.”
Elijah de Castro covers rural communities like Allendale and Barnwell counties for The People-Sentinel. He is a native of Trumansburg, N.Y., which is a small town in rural upstate New York. He is a Report for America corps member.
