Just 2 days before a couple that police say committed a double murder at a Myrtle Beach resort, police arrested the couple when they found two guns – including an AR15 — in the car they were in, police say.
The incident happened around 12:45 am on March 4 on US 17 North in Surfside Beach – and 2 days later Alexander Gray Turner’s parents were both shot and killed at the Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach. (Click for related story)
Turner, age 23, and his 19-year-old girlfriend Chelsi Leila Griffin, both of Conway, were arrested in connection with the double homicide and charged with murder.
Just two days before, Surfside Beach Police nabbed the pair with two guns in Griffin’s 2009 Toyota Corolla at 501 US 17 North in Surfside Beach, police said.
During the arrest, Turner said that they had the guns only “a day or two” and planned to go shooting with the weapons that were owned by a family member of Griffin’s, as seen on video News13 obtained from Surfside Beach Police.
The arrest on March 4 happened when an officer patrolling the area spotted their car at the side of a gas station, Surfside Beach Police said in a report.
The pair inside the car – Griffin and Turner – were apparently lost, the officer said.
But, when the officer came up to the car to help the a pair, he “could small a very strong odor of marijuana” coming from inside the car, according to police.
During a search of the car, police found an AR-15 in the back floor and a Keltec 9mm near the radio in the front occupant area, police said.
Police said they also seized a gram of marijuana and 5 insulin needles and aluminum foil.
A warrant for unlawful carrying of firearms was sought for the pair.
Turner was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia while Griffin was charged with simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers also issued a citation on Griffin for not having a valid SC drivers license.
During his arrest, Turner said “All of that stuff is mine.. I’ll do whatever I have to do make sure she don’t get (charged),” according to video from the backseat of a Surfside Beach Police cruiser.
Turner also told police that one of Griffin’s family members owned the 2 guns. He also added: “It’s all my fault.. everything that is against the law — I own,” according to the video.
During her arrest, Griffin said she was having a panic attack, as seen on video from the arrest obtained by News13. She also requested that police make sure she had her cell phone so she could call her mother from jail, the video showed.
The pair were apparently released from jail sometime before the murders on March 6, according to police.