Two dead after shooting at massive block party in South Carolina

A teenager was one of two people killed in a shooting at a massive block party in Jonesville, South Carolina.

Despite warnings from Gov. Henry McMaster to avoid large crowds, nearly 1,000 gathered at a Memorial Day weekend party on Sunday. According to a police report, two individuals were killed in a drive-by shooting that injured five others and prompted return fire from the crowd.

Curtis Lamont Bomar, 21, died at the scene from his injuries. Jabbrie Brandon, 17, died after being transported to the hospital. The five who were injured were also hospitalized, but the severity of the injuries is not yet clear.

Maj. Scott Coffer of the Union County Sheriff's Department said two suspects were in custody, including Shaquille Obryant Barber and Darnell Deandre Beacham. The motive for the shooting is still unclear, and Coffer said additional arrests may be made.

Law enforcement officers were first called to the scene after reports that hundreds of vehicles were blocking the road near the party. Police estimated that 900 to 1,000 people were at the scene. The sheriff's department had the DJ request that the cars be cleared from the road but stated that they could not break up the massive gathering to enforce social distancing because the gathering was on private property.

“Parties like these on private property are not uncommon and can cause a problem when people drink and want to gather with one another from being under quarantine,” Sheriff David Taylor told local newspaper The State.

McMaster lifted the majority of his stay-at-home policies on May 1. The state has recorded 435 coronavirus-related deaths since the outbreak began.