CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — On June 4, 2022, a graduation celebration in the St. Paul community turned into a time of mourning, and the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office is continuing to make arrests a year later.
The night was meant to be full of excitement as students graduated but quickly turned into a nightmare.
“We are not ok with the situation that happened the other night," Manai Stokes said days after the graduation party. "All we wanted to do was celebrate."
The shooting in the community of St. Paul near Summerton killed 32-year-old Audrionna Kind, known as “Tutu,” and injured eight between the ages of 12 and 36, with the majority being teenagers.
“We have situations where a lady who gave a graduation party for her friends and family was killed for no reason,” said Solicitor for Third Judicial Circut Ernest Finney.
“Your heart sinks. It’s one of those calls you don’t want to get,” said Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley.
The shooting took place around 11 p.m. when two vehicles appeared in the area, one staying on the highway and one pulling up to the event, firing shots at close to 150 people, shots Baxley believes were not meant for “Tutu.”
Tutu left behind 5 children, one of whom was also shot at the party.
Kind's cousin, Summerton Mayor Tony Junious, said days after the shooting that she was just like her last name -- “kind” -- and a woman with a big smile, who loved to laugh.
"One thing I always loved about Tutu, whatever she got to tell you, she's gonna say what she got to say, and at the end of the day, she comes around, and she still loves you," Junious said.
The investigation is ongoing but has led to multiple arrests.
On June 20, 2022, just weeks after the shooting, 4 suspects were arrested -- an 18-year-old, two 19-year-olds, and a 21-year-old. One is out on bond while the other three remain behind bars.
Then on June 30, 2022, a fifth suspect was arrested, a 20-year-old who remains behind bars.
Recently, on March 24, a sixth suspect was arrested. The 21-year-old remains behind bars.
Since the graduation shooting last year, the county has faced continued violence with six drive-by shootings, one resulting in death, and 27 shooting incidents.
That’s left a fear of guns and violence ravaging the community, leading to an increase in law enforcement requests.
“Since this graduation party incident from 2022 is that most people know when they have an outdoor event, they call us and ask for patrol, we have many requesting to hire off-duty deputies to be at these events, and since 2022 our off-duty requests have more than doubled here at the Sheriff's Office, everybody is just worried all the time now,” Sheriff Baxley said.
During the week of May 29th – June 5th, Columbia and Richland County had a total of 6 shooting incidents alone, and with fear instilled through the Clarendon community, they hope this shooting will lead to change
“I have sent the word out to my staff we are not going to be lenient on gun violence in the community," Finney said. "Taking a gun to a party where young people are having fun and drinking alcohol is sometimes a recipe for disaster, and we need to change our outlook for how serious this has become”
Baxley wants people to know that just because arrests have been made it doesn’t mean it’s over.
A trial date has not been set, but solicitor Finney expects the suspects to face trial this year, though he is not sure if they will be tried together or individually.
If you have more information on this case, authorities ask you to contact Crimestoppers anonymously in any of the following ways:
- Call 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).
- Use the P3 Tips mobile app.
- LOG ON to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a Tip” tab.