NEED TO KNOW
- A romantic rivalry “over a female” ended in tragedy when Devan Raper, 19, allegedly shot and killed Trey Dean Wright, 16, say police
- Wright was allegedly lured to a rural road by his girlfriend, where he was met by a group of teens who were waiting for him, say police
- Nine teens have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting
A 16-year-old South Carolina boy was allegedly lured to his death and fatally shot over a romantic rivalry — and now authorities have arrested nine teenagers, including his girlfriend, in connection with his death, authorities said.
One of the teens who was present at the scene allegedly filmed Trey Dean Wright, 16, of Johnsonville, getting shot, police said.
The alleged crime came to light on June 24, at about 11:30 p.m., when Florence County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call about a shooting on First Neck Road near Johnsonville. There, they found Wright lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds, the FCSO said in a June 26 release.
Wright was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
On June 25, deputies arrested Devan Raper, 19, of Conway, on suspicion of shooting and killing Wright during a verbal altercation in Johnsonville, which is about 50 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, according to the sheriff’s office.
Raper is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, the sheriff’s office said in the release.
On June 30, deputies arrested a second suspect, Gianna Helene Kistenmacher, 17, of Myrtle Beach and charged her with accessory before the fact of a felony, the sheriff’s office said in a June 30 release.
Investigators accused Kistenmacher of bringing Wright, who is believed to be her boyfriend, to a desolate section of First Neck Road “knowing that Raper was armed and that there would be a confrontation for violence likely to lead to death based on statements made in her presence,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.
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Sheriff T.J. Joye said the two teens “had issues with each other, and it was over a female,” Joye said, News 13 reports. “The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?”
On Aug. 3, three other teens were arrested and charged in connection to the fatal shooting.
Hunter Matthew Kendall, 18, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested and charged with murder, according to online jail records.
Corrinne Elizabeth Belviso, 18, and Sydney Marissa Kearns, 17, also from Myrtle Beach, were also arrested on Aug. 3 and charged with murder, according to the FCSO, ABC 15, WMBF and News 13 report.
Four other suspects were arrested but their names have not been released because they are minors, News 13 reports.
“They were complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation,” Maj. Michael Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office alleged, News 13 reports. “They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants.”
Nunn told the Post and Courier that under state law, all five are charged as adults.
Raper and Kendall remain held without bond at the Florence County Detention Center, according to online jail records.
Kistenmacher was granted bond and released on home confinement.
Belviso and Kearns each posted $20,000 surety bonds and were released pending a trial, Fox4 News reports.
It is unclear whether Raper, Kendall, and the other teens have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf.
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