TIMMONSVILLE, SC (WBTW) – A candlelight vigil will be held for the 12-year-old girl shot to death in Timmonsville Saturday night.
Timmonsville police responded to Tanyard Street Saturday night after a fight at a party at a different location resulted in a shooting.
Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken says 12-year-old Fantasia Shyann Jackson was shot and rushed to the hospital but later died. The community is set to hold a candlelight vigil for Jackson, known as Tasia to her friends and family.
The memorial for Jackson opened up with prayer.
Jackson’s uncle, Demetrius Gee, said his niece had a brain tumor when she was four-years-old, and two hip replacements when she was 10 years-old.
“She just kept that same smile even walking with a walker walking in a wheel chair,” said Gee. “She just smiled at you, and I think that’s the biggest part that she’s gonna leave on our family. No matter what you go through. No matter what you do in life. You still can conquer anything you want.”
Gee said he never imagined Jackson would pass away from a shooting because of everything she had been through.
“The way she left, she was healthy, she was doing good,” he explained. “Just got back home from the fair after having a long day just for her life to end by a gun shot wound.”
Gee said the family is still in shock from Jackson’s death.
“I would say we’re holding up okay,” he said. “You see it on the news where it might happen in New York, it might happen in Washington, but you never find a little small town like Timmonsville.”
Gee described Jackson as loving, caring, and intelligent.
“She loved to smile, she loved to dance, and she loved to sing,” he said about Jackson.
Community members and family of Jackson lit candles in her memory, and released balloons.
Gee said he’s grateful the community came together to celebrate his niece’s life.
Funeral services for the young girl will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Timmonsville Education Center, located at 304 Kemper Street.
One man has been arrested in connection with Jackson’s death.
According to Timmonsville Police Chief Billy Brown, Cedric Young, 31, of Timmonsville, was arrested within hours of the shooting, but another suspect is wanted.
Timmonsville police originally said Young was charged with assault and battery in the third degree and shooting into an occupied dwelling, but booking information does not list the weapons charge.
According to online booking records from the Florence County Detention Center, Young’s total bond has been set at $50,000. He remains behind bars at the time of this posting.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that is has taken over the investigation.
“We were asked by Timmonsville PD to take over the investigation. Our investigators tell me they are making progress and will provide information as soon as it’s available,” says Major Mike Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
The second suspect’s name has not been released.
