Teen shot, killed at weekend gathering in Beaufort County. No arrests yet
Beaufort County police were investigating a potential murder after a teenager was shot to death Saturday evening at a gathering in the Seabrook area. No arrests were made in the immediate aftermath, although deputies had identified at least one person of interest.
Jayquan Young, 18, was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound around 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the scene on Seabrook Center Road, outside a local community center where a large number of people were present.
The shooting came about two weeks after another social gathering that turned deadly in northern Beaufort County: a May 18 “Sunday Funday” party in the Sheldon area where a Yemassee resident was shot and killed. A man turned himself in for murder the day after those fatal gunshots.
Deputies were called just before 6:30 p.m. Saturday to an area between two properties on Seabrook Center Road, located less than a half-mile off U.S. 21 (Trask Parkway) slightly south of the Huspa Creek. Several people from the “large gathering” pointed police to the gunshot victim, who had a pool of blood under his head and did not appear to be breathing.
One witness told police that about 20 minutes before the “bang” of the single fatal gunshot, he had seen Young and another man standing outside the building “playing with a gun.” The witness said he had told the two men to put the firearm away “because there were families and young kids at the center,” according to an incident report from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Young then reportedly put the gun in his pocket.
Police later located the other man in the witness’ account, who by then was considered a suspect. Finding him at home in the same neighborhood, deputies interviewed the man and then seized his cellphone after he willingly provided his passcode, the report says.
The person of interest was “released for the time being,” according to the incident report. No arrests had been made in connection with the case as of Monday afternoon.
Staff Sgt. Bob Herlong of the BCSO would not say if Young’s death was being investigated as a murder, adding that the case was still active.
Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 843-524-2777. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County website, the P3 Tips app or by calling 844-847-7238 (844-TIPS-BFT).
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM.
