MARION, SC (WBTW) – The Sandy Grove Holiness Church in Mullins hopes to stop gun violence in Marion County after one of its church members was shot Saturday and later died.
Marion Police Chief Dewayne Tennie says officers arrested Anthony Randall for murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm discharging a weapon in the city limits, and unlawful carrying of a firearm.
Tennie says a shooting happened after an altercation on Bluff Road in Marion Saturday, January 20, 2018. Two people were shot during the shooting.
Police officers were able to locate Randall, who was about six blocks from where the shooting happened.
Monday, Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson identified the victim as 23-year-old Dashamel Prince Drayton from Marion County.
Drayton died Sunday at MUSC in Charleston from a gunshot wound, the coroner confirmed.
Pastor of Sandy Grove Holiness Church, Pastor Reese J. Holman says Drayton was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“[Drayton was] at the store and just got caught in the crossfire,” said Holoman.
Holman says the Drayton grew up at the Sandy Grove Holiness church. He says Drayton’s families been coming to the church for decades.
The church family asks the community to meet Tuesday at the church to pray for Marion County and stop gun violence.
“A quiet kid, very respectful, very mannerable. He smiled a lot. He wasn’t a troubled child at all. He was raised in a good family and good environment. Good home and a high school graduate,” Holman describes Drayton.
Rafat Abudyya, owner of the Tobacco House store near where the shooting happened says Drayton was a loyal customer and an overall good guy.
“Crime can happen anywhere… and we feel sorry for the family,” said Abudyya.
Holomon says the Drayton family is looking to their faith to get through his sudden death. They also ask the community to come together for a prayer vigil to stop gun violence in the county.
“Even in the midst of bad. We can make the best out of a bad situation,” said Holman.
Holman says it won’t stop with the vigil. The goal is to create a plan to unite the community and make changes.
“Prayfully we can see a turnaround in our children, in our youth, and just right here in our neighborhood,” said Holman.
Chief Tennie said this was a senseless crime that should have never occurred. Tennie thanks the witnesses for cooperating.
The prayer vigil will be held at Sandy Grove Holiness Church at 3310 Bluff Road Mullins, SC Tuesday at 7.