Two more shot at Beaufort’s Garden Oaks apartments. 3rd violent act in 6 months
Two people exchanged gunfire at a Beaufort apartment complex that left both with critical injuries and police rendering life-saving aid in a case that remains under investigation.
The shooting was the third violent crime at the Garden Oaks Apartments, 2000 Salem Road, in the past six months. Two people have died.
The apartment owners and local officials gathered at the 288-unit apartment facility for a ribbon cutting earlier this month to officially celebrate its completion.
What happened
In the most recent case, Beaufort police responded at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday to a report of shots fired. Officers found one man outside with a gunshot wound and rendered aid until emergency medical services arrived and transported the victim to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
A second man, suffering from three gunshot wounds, fled the scene by vehicle. Police quickly tracked down the vehicle, which came to a stop after the victim became unable to continue driving due to their injuries, police said. Officers immediately rendered life-saving aid until emergency services arrived. That person was also taken to BMH.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the two parties likely exchanged gunfire, said Lt. Lori Evans of the Beaufort Police Department.
“We do believe this was isolated between the two parties that were injured,” Evans told he Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet Thursday morning.
The condition of the two people who were shot and the types of weapons used was unavailable.
If you have tips
Anyone with information about Wednesday’s incident is urged to contact Lt. Mendicino at 843-322-7911. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app, online at www.TIPSBFT.com, or by calling 1-844-TIPSBFT (1-844-847-7238) please reference case #25B18445.
Other cases
In December, police responded to a suspicious death of 62-year-old Huey Marshall, whose throat was slit, according to police. Bryan Antwan Thomas, 35, is facing murder charges in connection with Marshall’s death. Thomas also is charged with meth trafficking, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and violation of probation terms.
In another case at Garden Oaks, Derrick Lamonte Singleton Jr. faces charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, discharging a firearm into a vehicle and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in connection with the Feb. 11 fatal shooting death of 26-year-old Tahir A. Bailey of Beaufort.
“We’re treating them all as separate incidents right now,” Evans said of the three cases.
This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 9:48 AM.
