Family Seeks Justice 10 Years After Memorial Day Weekend Shooting in Myrtle Beach

Family Seeks Justice 10 Years After Memorial Day Weekend Shooting in Myrtle Beach

A Decade of Persisting Pain and Persistence

It has now been 10 years since the heart-wrenching Memorial Day weekend shooting that took place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Four innocent lives were tragically extinguished in the violence, including 22-year-old Sandy Gaddis Barnwell. As the disturbing event marks its 10th anniversary, the grief-stricken family perseveres in their pursuit of justice for Barnwell and the other victims.

A Plea for Information

“Our life is surviving every day. We are surviving gun violence every day,” confides Melody Gaddis McFadden, Sandy Barnwell’s aunt. On this grim occasion, she has renewed her urgent plea for information that could finally help apprehend those responsible for the horrific act of violence.

“People are always confused when I tell them this because there were so many people on the beach for Black Bike Week and Memorial Day weekend. The case is still unsolved,” McFadden lamented, shedding a light on just how long the agony of this unresolved case has been extended for the relatives of the victims.

A Night of Bedlam and Bloodshed

On May 24, 2014, reports of a large commotion between several individuals started pouring in from the vicinity of Ocean Boulevard near the Bermuda Sands Motel. Upon arrival to attend to this melee, police found themselves embroiled in an incident far more serious; a devastating act of gun violence had left Barnwell, 28-year-old Jamie Williams, 21-year-old Devonte Dantzler, and another unidentified person fatally wounded.

Unfortunately, despite the large number of potential witnesses, investigators are yet to piece together enough evidence to uncover the culprits, keeping a resolution unimaginably out of reach for the grief-stricken survivors.

Remembering Lost Lives

Barnwell’s family now looks towards a somber gathering as they prepare to hold a commemorative vigil for her and the other victims this weekend. Their palpable grief is a harrowing reminder of the toll an unsolved crime can inflict on surviving kin long after the act itself has been committed.

In the face of the long-lasting anguish, McFadden has made an impassioned appeal to anyone with information that can unlock the answers to her niece’s murder. “If they have any information about the murderers who took her life, they should give that information to Crime Stoppers or to their local police department. My sister’s only child did not come home from the beach,” she urged.

As the quest for justice continues, the case serves as a chilling reminder of the unending pain encountered by victims of unsolved crimes. The hope now lies in someone stepping forward with information that can finally bring closure to the families.