Beaufort police identify 2nd suspect in 2025 Cross Creek Plaza murder
Shortly after charging an initial suspect in a September 2025 fatal shooting outside a popular shopping center, Beaufort police have identified a second suspect — and need the public’s help finding him.
Gerald Washington Jr., 24, is wanted on charges of murder, aggravated breach of peace, criminal conspiracy, discharging a firearm within Beaufort city limits and a felony firearms offense. He is 5-foot-10 and weighs 145 pounds, according to the Beaufort Police Department.
Officers identified Washington hours after arresting Lobeco man Jaheim Tyberous Watson, 21, on the same charges.
What happened the night of the shooting
Both men are charged in the shooting death 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, officers said.
Burton was taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 4 a.m. the next morning, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
Cross Creek Plaza is adjacent to Beaufort’s Walmart store on S.C. 170 (Robert Smalls Parkway). Its collection of businesses includes Planet Fitness, Belk, Big Lots and Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Lynch of the Beaufort Police Department 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.
