- calendar_today August 6, 2025
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Nine teens have been arrested in connection with the June 24 shooting death of a 16-year-old from Johnsonville, South Carolina, authorities say. The killing, which allegedly started with a dispute “over a girl” and was at least partly recorded on video by one of the suspects, has left Trey Dean Wright’s family searching for answers and a community shaken by what they say is the latest in a series of shootings in Florence County.
Florence County Sheriff’s Office deputies found Wright’s body along First Neck Road on June 24; he had been shot several times. The rural road where Wright was killed is about 45 miles west of Myrtle Beach. The next day, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office arrested 19-year-old Devan Scott Raper of Conway, the alleged shooter. Raper is accused of shooting Wright after the two became involved in an argument that was escalating and then leaving the scene.
Florence County law enforcement officials have since said the shooting was premeditated and that several of the teen suspects lured the victim to the rural area, where Raper was waiting and shooting, knowing both that Raper was armed and that the victim was a target of threats from Raper.
Wright’s mother, Ashley Lindsey, recently told Fox News Digital that court proceedings for her son’s case have only added to the pain of the loss. “All this court hearing and bond court and stuff is driving me crazy,” she said. “I don’t even have time to sit down and think half the time, on top of losing my precious baby.”
The girlfriend of the 16-year-old shooting victim was one of the suspects arrested in his death; Gianna Kistenmacher of Myrtle Beach is 17. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has charged the teen with accessory before the fact; according to the arrest warrant, the teen is accused of “knowingly bringing Raper to the location where Raper and Wright would have their confrontation and shoot and kill Wright, while Kistenmacher knew Raper had a firearm and was armed and had the apparent ability and intent to use such firearm during and in furtherance of a violent crime.”
Prosecutors Have Charged the Teens as Adults
Florence County Sheriff’s Office Major Michael Nunn told WBTW-TV the arrest of Wright’s girlfriend was just one of several arrests as officials continued to make arrests in the case in the weeks after the shooting. “We’ve made additional arrests of some juveniles,” Nunn said. “They were complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation.”
One of the suspects is the victim’s girlfriend, authorities have said.
As of this week, nine suspects have been arrested and charged as adults in Wright’s death. South Carolina law allows for juveniles to be tried as adults for certain violent crimes, including murder, and Florence County officials confirmed that five of the arrests were made under that state statute. “The hand of one being the hand of all is part of South Carolina law as well, so that’s the basis of the charge for each of those individuals,” Nunn told reporters.
Three teens from the Myrtle Beach area were subsequently charged with murder, along with Raper. The three have been identified as 18-year-olds Hunter Kendall and Corrine Belviso and 17-year-old Sydney Kearns. Authorities have not indicated how the other arrests are likely to be charged, though it has been confirmed that at least some will be tried as adults.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrests, and Sheriff T.J. Joye told local reporters that the shooting was “over a female” and described the shooting as originating in a personal feud. “They had issues with each other, and it was over a female,” Joye said. “The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?”
Raper, 19, is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the arrest warrant and jail records; he was ordered to be held without bond. Kendall, who is also charged with murder, is being held without bond. Belviso and Kearns were each released on $20,000 surety bonds last week.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to requests for additional information or comment on the case, as the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors have declined to comment on the pending case. For Wright’s mother, though, the loss of her son remains immediate.
Ashley Lindsey continues to grieve publicly while also lamenting the length of the court proceedings, which have only been adjourned because of Raper’s being denied bond, while several of the victim’s friends and even his girlfriend are among those charged in the case. The shooting has also drawn broader questions in the community about the influences of teenage drama, peer pressure and access to guns contributing to deadly violence.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story said Raper had been ordered to be released on bond. He has been ordered to be held without bond.
