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Summary: Gary Herendeen, 74, of Charlotte was shot to death in his van behind a furniture store in Indian Land near Fort Mill, South Carolina, on January 2, 2026. His body was discovered January 5. Suspect Calvin Lamarr Allen, 44, also of Charlotte and a former acquaintance with a prior dispute, was arrested January 9 on murder and firearm charges after driving to confront him.
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INDIAN LAND, S.C. (AP) — A 44-year-old Charlotte resident now faces murder charges following the fatal shooting of a part-time furniture store employee whose body lay undiscovered for days in a South Carolina parking lot, authorities announced.
Gary Herendeen, 74, of Charlotte, was discovered deceased around noon on January 5, 2026, in the rear lot of The Designers Marketplace on Yarborough Road in Indian Land, Lancaster County. Deputies from the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office responded after a customer alerted them to the scene, where Herendeen was found partially inside and outside his white Chevrolet van with multiple gunshot wounds. Coroner's officials pronounced him dead at the location, marking the area's first homicide of the year.
Investigators determined the shooting occurred in the early morning hours of January 2, 2026. According to sheriff's deputies, Herendeen occasionally slept in his van behind the business where he worked part-time, handling tasks such as driving delivery trucks, making pickups, and assembling furniture. Authorities believe the assailant drove from Charlotte to the site specifically to confront him, stemming from a prior falling out between the two men.
No direct eyewitnesses to the gunfire have come forward, but store employees expressed shock upon learning of the incident. One co-worker, who asked not to be named, described arriving for a shift and noticing the van but assuming Herendeen was resting inside as usual. "It was heartbreaking to realize what had happened right there," the employee said, adding that staff questioned how the body remained unnoticed over the weekend amid typical foot traffic.
The investigation progressed swiftly with surveillance footage and tips from the community, leading to the identification of Calvin Lamarr Allen as the primary suspect. On January 9, 2026, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested Allen without incident during a routine patrol. He was extradited to Lancaster County and booked into the detention center on charges of murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Prosecutors indicated during a preliminary hearing that evidence includes ballistic matches and vehicle tracking data linking Allen to the scene.
Herendeen's family, reached through a sheriff's spokesperson, conveyed deep sorrow, portraying him as a dedicated individual who enjoyed helping others despite his age. "This loss has devastated us," a relative stated, emphasizing the need for justice in what they called a premeditated act over an old grudge.
In the close-knit community near Fort Mill, residents voiced heightened concerns about safety in commercial areas, particularly after dark. Local business owners, including those at nearby shops, called for increased patrols and better lighting in parking lots. Sheriff's officials praised public cooperation in the probe, noting it exemplified how community vigilance can aid in resolving violent cases promptly. As the case moves to court, authorities continue to seek additional information from anyone who may have observed suspicious activity around the business in early January.
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