CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Horry County Police Department is working with Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry to find the man they say killed a 66-year-old taxi driver last month.
Officers are searching for Marion Javon Campbell, 23, in the June 26 murder of a 66-year-old Socastee man.
A press release distributed Wednesday by Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry says the unit was asked to redistribute information about the murder and continue to ask the community for help in finding suspected killer Marion Campbell.
The release says anyone who reports information that leads to Campbell’s arrest could receive a reward of up to $1,000. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at (843)554-1111 or toll free at 1-888-CRIMESC. Tipsters do not have to give their name.
According to Horry County Police Public Information Officer Krystal Dotson, detectives are investigating the death of Dennis Mantle, 66, on Juniper Bay Road in Conway. Dotson says detectives are investigating the case as a shooting homicide after the taxi driver was found inside his van with a gunshot wound.
Horry County Coroner Darris Fowler identified the victim Monday night, saying Mantle was from Socastee. The coroner also said the victim died at Conway Medical Center ER at 6:46 a.m.
In the report from Horry County police, investigators note dispatchers initially received the call that a taxi had crashed into a home and was found in the front yard. Officers that responded to the scene said the van’s front driver’s side window was broken out and there was a large amount of blood.
Detectives are investigating the death of a male victim on Juniper Bay Road in Conway, SC. No suspects. Stay tuned!
— Horry County PD (@horrycountypd) June 26, 2017
The police department stated on its Twitter account that parts of Juniper Bay Road and Dunn Shortcut were closed for about an hour as detectives worked to clear the crime scene.
Police announced Campbell as the murder suspect Wednesday morning on the department’s Twitter account.
On today’s episode of Catching an Horry County Crook: MARION JAVON CAMPBELL!
Wanted for MURDER! Info? Call 843.915.8477. pic.twitter.com/QdcI9tdGMM
— Horry County PD (@horrycountypd) June 28, 2017
Monday’s investigation is the fourth shooting in the Conway area in less than two weeks. Two of those shootings were deadly and the other two sent victims to the hospital.
On Tuesday, June 13, a Conway man was killed in a home on Beau Street after 19-year-old Richard Andrew Whidby, of Conway, reportedly fired a number of shots into the home. Less than 24 hours later, a second Conway shooting happened on Creel Street, sending one woman to the hospital.
The third Conway area shooting within three days occurred June 15 on Harper Road. Horry County Police arrested two suspects related to the shooting.
People who live in the area say they’re worried for their safety after shootings in Conway have become a common theme and they’re begging police to help.
Valeri Lauletta lives just feet away from where the man was found dead in his taxi Monday morning.
“I have an eight-year-old son so it’s a little too close home,” said Lauletta. “They got to find out who’s doing it or keep us safe. That’s what I would like, to know that we’re safe.”
News13 tried to speak with Horry County Police Chief Joseph Hill about the violence and what they plan to do to address it. Chief Hill said he was out of town Monday and the public information officer declined to comment on his behalf.