A family altercation in Friendship, near Barnwell, South Carolina, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, ended with 31-year-old Matthew Shane Baxley found fatally shot at a Highway 64 residence. Authorities say the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting and discovered Baxley with fatal injuries.

The incident involved a double shooting. Harvey Joyner was also shot in the face; he received initial treatment from Barnwell City Fire Department personnel and was transported to a hospital. Arrest affidavits allege the events began as an altercation between Joyner and Matthew Baxley, that Julie Baxley, Matthew’s 49-year-old mother, shot Joyner with a .380 handgun, and that Joyner then shot Matthew in self-defense. Julie Baxley was arrested and charged with Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime and Attempted Murder; she was denied bond at a hearing on September 18. The investigation remains ongoing.

Matthew Shane Baxley, born July 10, 1993, was a father of three daughters and is remembered for his gentle nature, bright blue eyes, and love of hunting, fishing, cooking, and grilling. Funeral services were held September 23, 2024, with burial at Mt. Lebanon Christian Church Cemetery.

If anyone who knew Matthew or witnessed the events that day can provide information, please come forward to assist the investigation.