Teen charged in fatal shooting of Beaufort 20-year-old known as “old soul”
An 18-year-old man was arrested Thursday in the murder of Ethan Bosworth, 20, a Beaufort native, the Beaufort Police Department said in a Facebook post.
Cameron Chan’ou Kim, of Lady’s Island, remained in Beaufort County Detention Center Thursday, jail logs show. He awaits an initial hearing where bond will be determined.
“Kim was identified after a thorough investigation that included canvasses of the area around the crime scene and extensive interviews with witnesses, as well as friends and associates of Ethan Bosworth and Cameron Kim,” the release says.
Bosworth was shot while sitting in a car on Waddell Road in Beaufort about 10:15 p.m. Nov. 22, Chief Deputy Coroner David Ott previously said.
He crashed his Ford Mustang into a tree on the same road after being shot. The crash pushed a tree into another car parked at a home.
Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle prior to the shooting when it was stopped next to two unidentified men wearing hooded sweatshirts, police previously said.
An old soul
Bosworth was an old soul with a passion for music legends such as Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong, Rachel Rathmell, a longtime friend and on-and-off girlfriend, said Wednesday.
He was a loyal friend and sweet boyfriend, Rathmell said.
“Every time we had an argument, his defense was, ‘But I have a big heart,’” Rathmell said. “It was true. He absolutely was a sweetheart.”
Bosworth also is remembered for his love of cars, along with his work in his dad’s woodshop and his mom’s pottery shop.
He had a 1980s F-150 he spent years working on, Rathmell said.
“It would be driving and shut off in the middle of the road,” Rathmell said. “He would get out and screw something, and it would be back moving again.”
Investigation ongoing
Police have not released a motive. “Although the arrest of Kim is obviously a key milestone in the investigation of the murder of Ethan Bosworth, the investigation remains active and ongoing,” the release says.
Anyone with information should call Beaufort Police Department investigator Joshua Dowling at 843-322-7950 or the anonymous tip line at 843-322-7938.
Beaufort murders
Bosworth is the second murder in Beaufort city limits this year.
Theresa Coker, 70, was found by a maintenance worker brutally murdered at her Polk Street on Oct. 9. It is believed the crime happened on Oct. 2.
Jermaine Lemonte Thurston, 42, of Seabrook was charged in her murder on Oc. 29. He remains in Beaufort County Detention Center with no bond.
Police say, Thurston, who has an extensive criminal history of violent acts, did yard work for Coker.
Bosworth is the 12th homicide in Beaufort County this year.
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 3:27 PM.