Amahad Deshawn Darnes, 19, a Black male from Aiken, South Carolina, was found dead in woods off Atomic Road in Jackson on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Responders located him that morning; the Aiken County Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead at the scene from a gunshot wound and identified him as Darnes. A firearm was reported in his hand when he was found.

Earlier that morning deputies had been sent to a residence on Atomic Road after the homeowner reported a break-in and missing Christmas presents. The homeowner heard footsteps, saw three people get into a dark-colored Buick and speed away while a fourth person ran into the nearby woods. Tracking teams searched the woods and located the unresponsive man.

Authorities said the burglary, the presence of people fleeing, and the gunshot death were being treated as connected while the investigation continued. No suspects or arrests were publicly named as the case remained under investigation. If anyone has information about who was at the Atomic Road residence or saw activity there that night, please contact the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office.