Name of second Bluffton shooting victim released

The second victim of gunfire on Shults and Geothe roads that killed a Bluffton man has been identified.

Deonte Stevenson was flown to a nearby hospital after suffering a gunshot wound Friday night around 11:40 p.m., according to Bluffton Police Department spokeswoman Joy Nelson.

Nelson did not say where Stevenson is from, which hospital he was taken to, or his condition. She did add Monday that he remains in the hospital.

What neighbors said were approximately six shots fired resulted in the death of Roy Leon Hamilton, 21, also of Bluffton.

Thomas Bush, 29, was charged with murder and attempted murder following the incident, according to a Bluffton Police Department news release. He is being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center.

This is not the first time law enforcement have had a run-in with Bush.

According to Beaufort County Court records, Bush has a pending case on a unlawful carry of a pistol, and possession of a weapon on a premises where alcohol is sold charges stemming from a September 2015 incident.

Bush was among nine charged when investigators served a warrant on Burroughs Bar and Grill Night Club on Persimmon Street after a fight at the club led them to question the business’ practices.

After 60 patrons of the club were interviewed, Bush was charged with simple possession of marijuana and unlawful carry of a firearm on liquor premises at that time.

He also pled guilty to drug possession in June of 2014.

Earlier that same year, Bush was shot in the lower leg in January outside his home at 83 Shults Road during an apparent drive-by shooting. He was reportedly on his porch when a vehicle with its headlights turned off passed and a passenger began firing, Bluffton police said at the time.

Police also thought someone fired back at the vehicle, and investigators spent part of the following day combing the property and neighboring yards with a metal detector.

Officers also searched Bush’s home for evidence and found cocaine.

When asked by an Island Packet reporter Monday for an interview with either Chief Joey Reynolds or Lt. Joe Babkiewicz about the Friday shooting, Nelson declined, citing the ongoing investigation.

This story was originally published June 6, 2016 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Name of second Bluffton shooting victim released."