5 suspects in deadly Marlboro County club shooting face judge
MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The five suspects arrested in a deadly shooting outside a Marlboro County nightclub called Club Amnesia appeared before a judge Friday afternoon at the Marlboro County Magistrate Office.
The following men are charged:
- Kevin Robert Williams, 27 of Rockingham, NC
- Marion Devonte Ellerbe, 24 of Rockingham, NC
- Antuan Latice Zeigler, 21 of Rockingham, NC
- Javontae Marquel Dockery, 22 of Rockingham, NC
- Khalil Jaquan Watkins, 19 of Rockingham, NC
All of the suspects were arrested in Rockingham, NC, on Oct. 13, and charged after a shooting incident killed Bria Byrd and Ronnie Oxendine while injuring three other victims.
All defendants have been charged with:
- Two counts of Murder
- Three counts of Attempted Murder
- One Count of Criminal Conspiracy
- One Count of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle
Lt Trevor Murphy with the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, Murphy said a group of people were “leaving the club and crossing the roadway to get to the parking lot. While crossing the roadway, a dark in color vehicle driving eastbound toward North Carolina stopped in the roadway and began shooting at a group of people that were walking to their vehicles."
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He added the car then left the scene traveling into North Carolina at a high rate of speed.
Murphy said off-duty deputies were assisting with security at the club when this incident took place.
“Immediately after hearing the gunshots, two deputies attempted a vehicle pursuit of the armed subjects into North Carolina while other deputies on scene attempted to render aid to the victims and secure the crime scene,” said Murphy.
Magistrate Ronald Stanton arraigned each of the suspects.
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Stanton said they all qualified for a public defender.
The family of Bria Byrd was in the courtroom for the bond hearings.
Byrd's twin sister, Brittany Byrd, said she lived her life to the fullest.
"My sister was the life of the party. She goes and party every weekend. That’s what she like to do. She partied every weekend. She brings her kids to my mother. And she go party. She have her a good time," said Byrd.
Byrd said two of the men charged in the shooting are their cousins.
She said it's caused a rift in their family, but right now their focus is on justice for Bria.
"We here to get justice for her. To make sure justice is served. For everybody that's involved. Everybody is going to get what they deserve. That's all we want," said Brittany Byrd.
The men will have to appear before a South Carolina Circuit judge for a bond hearing.
Their next scheduled court appearance is on Dec. 16 at the Marlboro County Courthouse.
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Crime Scene Units responded to the scene to assist with processing.
The Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this investigation by the US Marshal Task Force, the ATF, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rockingham Police Dept. .