Two teenagers who had spent Halloween night trick-or-treating and grabbing a late bite to eat were shot and killed in the parking lot of a Spartanburg Cook Out, and police still don’t know who pulled the trigger.
Officers were called to the restaurant on John B. White Sr. Boulevard around 11:30 p.m. Saturday after reports of multiple gunshots, Spartanburg Police Chief Art Littlejohn said. They found two people shot in the parking lot. Officers gave first aid before both were rushed to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where they died.
The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office identified them as Jayden Marek Watson, 15, and Shane Carter Dawkins, 17.
A third person was also hit by gunfire. A family member drove that person to the hospital, and their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Littlejohn was blunt about who the victims were. He said the teens were not troublemakers, just kids enjoying the holiday, and that someone acted irresponsibly by pulling out a gun and firing.
As of Monday, no arrests had been made and no suspects had been identified. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who was at the Cook Out that night or has information is asked to call the Spartanburg Police Department at 864-596-2065 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
Source: Spartanburg Police Department; Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office, as reported by WIS/FOX Carolina
