David Franklin Shrewsbury, 44, was shot multiple times with a shotgun and died in the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Deputies were called about 12:40 a.m. to a modest home on Mt. Olive Road in Cowpens; Shrewsbury was found gravely wounded and was pronounced dead shortly after 1 a.m. The county coroner recorded his death as a homicide by gunshot.

Investigators described the scene as intensely personal rather than random. Authorities named 28-year-old Brandon Tylar Crocker as the suspect within hours and said he was arrested at the scene. Crocker was accused of firing repeatedly at Shrewsbury inside the residence and was charged with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and ill-treatment of animals after Shrewsbury’s dog was also deliberately shot and killed. A woman who had previously been in a relationship with the victim and who is Crocker’s mother was present and identified in warrants as a key witness who saw what unfolded.

Officials said a motive had not been released and did not detail any prior threats or incidents at the address. If anyone knew David Shrewsbury or saw activity at the Mt. Olive Road residence that night, please share information with investigators.