DailyKenn.com | AbateHate.com | New Facebook Group
HAMPTON, S.C. (AP) — A 51-year-old South Carolina man was shot to death in a rural double shooting that has left authorities hunting for a suspect described as armed and dangerous, as family and neighbors mourn the loss of a longtime community member.
Your $8 monthly partner pledge helps us reach others & more ►
Boynton (Tony) Woodrow O’Brien, a Hampton resident known for his work in local construction and quiet demeanor, became the latest victim of violence in the Lowcountry region when gunfire erupted along Altman Road near Whippy Swamp Bridge on the evening of Nov. 3, 2025. Hampton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of shots fired around 8 p.m., arriving to find O’Brien suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Hampton County Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
A second unidentified man, also wounded in the exchange, was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Savannah, Georgia, where he underwent surgery and remained in stable condition as of Thursday. Investigators believe the two men were traveling together in a pickup truck when they were ambushed by gunfire from another vehicle that pulled alongside them on the dimly lit stretch of road flanked by dense swampland. The bridge over Whippy Swamp, a historic crossing in the rural area once known as Whippy Swamp Crossroads, was closed for hours as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s crime scene unit processed evidence, including shell casings and tire marks.
 |
| https://www.facebook.com/groups/mostmaga |
Witnesses in the sparse community, which includes scattered farms and a historic muster ground from the Civil War era, reported hearing a burst of rapid gunfire that echoed across the swamp. One nearby resident, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, described the scene as chaotic: “It was like thunder rolling in, but then the sirens came. We all just froze on our porches, praying it wasn’t someone we knew.” Another neighbor, speaking to local media, recalled seeing a dark-colored sedan speeding away moments after the shots, though no plates were visible in the low light.
By Nov. 7, the investigation had yielded a prime suspect: Jerome Warren, 40, of nearby Varnville, charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Authorities allege Warren, who knew O’Brien through mutual acquaintances in the construction trade, opened fire following a road-rage altercation that began earlier in the evening at a local convenience store. Warren, considered armed and dangerous with a history of minor drug-related arrests, fled the scene in the sedan and remains at large. The sheriff’s office is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest, urging the public to submit tips anonymously via their mobile app or hotline.
O’Brien’s family, reached at their Hampton home, expressed devastation in a brief statement. “Boynton was the rock of our family, always helping neighbors without asking for anything,” said his sister, Marlene O’Brien. “We just want justice and for everyone to stay safe out there.” Friends remembered him as a devoted father of three and avid fisherman who often shared stories of his youth around the Whippy Swamp area.
The shooting has rattled the tight-knit Hampton County community of about 19,000, where violent crime is rare but gun violence has ticked upward amid regional strains from economic pressures and drug trafficking routes. Local leaders, including Sheriff Anthony Russell, held a community forum Thursday night, emphasizing vigilance and the department’s commitment to transparency. “This tragedy hits close to home, but we won’t rest until Warren is behind bars,” Russell said. Residents echoed calls for increased patrols along rural roads, with one church elder noting, “We’ve got history here—good and bad—but losing Boynton reminds us evil can lurk anywhere.”
As the manhunt intensifies, with SLED agents canvassing nearby counties, O’Brien’s loved ones prepare for a memorial service planned for next week. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in rural South Carolina, where swift justice often hinges on community trust.
Deputies: 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Hampton https://www.wjcl.com/article/hampton-south-carolina-double-shooting/69251804
Wanted: Authorities in Hampton County searching for murder suspect on the run https://www.wjcl.com/article/hampton-county-murder-suspect-jerome-warren/69286524
Your $8 monthly partner pledge helps us reach others & more ►
Find archived black-on-white homicide news reports here ►
200 latest news reports from 100 top conservative websites