Investigation into Hilton Head teen’s killing led to arrest, seizure of gun stash, police say
The ongoing investigation into the Dec. 23 shooting death of a Hilton Head Island teen has led to the arrest of a 16-year-old suspect and the discovery of a cache of weapons that might be connected to recent shootings in northern Beaufort County, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday.
Following an investigation by the Beaufort County Violent Crimes Task Force, Bluffton Police Department arrested the 16-year-old male early Saturday morning in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Trey Blackshear, who was killed in the parking lot of a Bluffton church, the release said.
Police have not released the name of the detained juvenile suspect or any details about his connection to Blackshear.
Investigators identified the suspect through interviews of “numerous” witnesses and obtained an order from a judge to detain him, the release said.
On Friday, investigators located the light-colored sedan that was seen leaving the scene of Blackshear’s killing parked at a home on Mink Point Boulevard in Beaufort.
According to the release, officers obtained warrants to search and seize the car and search the home for evidence related to Blackshear’s murder.
While raiding the house, officers found more than 20 people inside and seized 10 handguns and several rifles and narcotics, the release said. Although no arrests were made at the time of the raid, “criminal charges are expected,” the release said.
“The handguns and rifles will be subjected to forensic examination — ballistics and DNA — to determine their connection to not only Trey Blackshear’s murder but to numerous recent shootings reported in northern Beaufort County,” the release said.
On Saturday morning, the 16-year-old suspect in Blackshear’s killing turned himself in at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Center in Beaufort, the release said. Bluffton Police officers then transported the suspect to the Department of Juvenile Justice detention facility in Columbia.
When asked if police have identified the second suspect in the killing seen running from the scene after the shooting, Bluffton Police spokesperson Capt. Joe Babkiewicz said the investigation is ongoing.
Blackshear was found dead Monday from multiple gunshot wounds in the driver’s seat of a car parked in the Lord of Life Lutheran Church parking lot along Buckwalter Parkway.
The shooting happened around 2:20 p.m. two days before Christmas. Babkiewicz said police have identified a possible motive for the killing, but said he is not prepared to release it at this time.
After the shooting, police say two suspects ran across the street to the Bluewater Exxon gas station. From the gas station, they ran to the CPM Federal Credit Union in Buckwalter Place, where they got into a light-colored four-door sedan and drove away.
Sauls Funeral Home said Blackshear’s funeral arrangements have not been finalized as of Saturday morning.
Blackshear was known as a good friend who loved soccer and always had a smile on his face, friend and classmate Chris Narvaez told The Island Packet on Tuesday.
“Honestly, he was very, very funny and it hurts to see my friend go,” Narvaez said.
Anyone who has information regarding the December 23 shooting of Trey Blackshear is encouraged to call the Bluffton Police Department Tip Line 843-706-4560 or Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111, if wishing to remain anonymous and for possible reward, the release said.
This story was originally published December 28, 2019 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Investigation into Hilton Head teen’s killing led to arrest, seizure of gun stash, police say."
