Tylieke Easterling was 19 when he was killed on the night of Wednesday, December 23, 2020, on the 4000 block of West Palmetto Street (Highway 76) in Florence County, South Carolina. Investigators say he climbed into a car and that 24-year-old Raeshawn Shaquille Lawson of Florence was a passenger who handled a handgun inside the vehicle. Authorities allege Lawson pointed or presented the weapon toward Easterling and the gun discharged, mortally wounding him. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office opened a homicide investigation and Lawson was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, the charge describing an unintentional killing rooted in reckless behavior. No other suspects were publicly identified in the initial reports.

Easterling, known to family as Ty, was born October 7, 2001, in Florence and raised in Darlington; he attended Darlington High School and was remembered by relatives as an honor student. His family held a graveside service at Faith Memorial Gardens in late December, observing pandemic restrictions. Does anyone have information about Easterling, that night on Highway 76, or the people involved?