In the late summer of 2016 a neighbor dispute in Easley, South Carolina ended in the fatal shooting of 58-year-old James Kenneth Brazeal. On September 10, Brazeal was shot in the abdomen. He managed to call 911 and identify his neighbor, 59-year-old Rebecca Barten Smoak, as the person who had shot him. Brazeal was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries.

Investigators focused on Smoak after Brazeal’s dying declaration and evidence from the scene. She was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. Court proceedings included the 911 call and the victim’s direct accusation as key elements presented at hearings. Ultimately Smoak pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and weapons possession and was sentenced in July 2018 to 20 years in prison.

Did anyone in Easley know Brazeal or Smoak, or have information about what sparked the dispute?