Man arrested after deadly shooting at Beaufort’s Cross Creek Plaza
Police have arrested a suspect after a fatal September shooting in the parking lot of a Beaufort shopping center.
Jaheim Tyberous Watson, 21, of Lobeco, was charged Friday afternoon with murder, aggravated breach of peace, criminal conspiracy, discharging firearms within Beaufort city limits and a felony firearms offense, according to inmate records.
He is accused in the killing of Christopher Jamal Burton, 28, of Burton on Sept. 29, 2025.
Beaufort police received a report of gunfire around 9 p.m. that night from the Cross Creek Plaza, where they found Burton with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot near Little Caesars Pizza. An exterior wall of the store was reportedly damaged by the gunshots.
Burton was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 4 a.m. the next morning.
Cross Creek Plaza is adjacent to Beaufort’s Walmart store on Robert Smalls Parkway. Its collection of businesses includes Planet Fitness, Belk, Big Lots and Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Watson’s charge of criminal conspiracy implies that police believe other suspects were involved in the fatal shooting. The charge is defined under South Carolina law as “two or more persons” working together to commit a crime.
The shooting remains under investigation, according to the Beaufort Police Department.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Lynch at 843-322-7828. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County website, the P3 Tips app or by calling 1-844-847-7238 (1-844-TIPSBFT), referencing case number 25B34154.
