NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – A man convicted in a deadly murder-for-hire scheme will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a Charleston County jury found him guilty of orchestrating a fatal shooting in 2020.
Quinton Taylor, 40, received a life sentence after being found guilty of murder and possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, officials announced Monday. The verdict comes just days after jurors concluded that Taylor tracked and killed 27-year-old DeAndre Rivers on a quiet North Charleston street.
Authorities say Taylor meticulously planned the attack, following Rivers for several days and using a GPS tracking device attached to the victim’s vehicle. In the early hours of May 6, 2020, Taylor waited outside a friend’s house on Gullah Avenue. When Rivers exited the residence shortly after 4:30 a.m., Taylor opened fire, striking him multiple times. Police responded swiftly, but Rivers was declared dead at the scene.
Detectives pieced together a trail of evidence that led them to Taylor. Surveillance footage and witness statements indicated a black Dodge Ram pickup truck repeatedly circled the crime scene both before and after the shooting. Investigators later determined the truck had been rented by Taylor, using his personal contact information.
Just half a day after the killing, police apprehended Taylor in the rented vehicle. Inside, officers recovered Taylor’s cell phone, a black T-shirt, a Crown Royal bag containing a ski mask, and more than $11,000 in cash. Further scrutiny of Taylor’s phone unearthed a collection of text messages and calls exchanged before and after the murder, including a brief message sent just minutes after Rivers’ death: “Done.”
Authorities say the killing was not random. Their investigation revealed Taylor had been recruited as a hitman by an inmate at Evans Correctional Institution. That individual, later identified as Darrell Williams, 33, is now charged with accessory before the fact of a felony. According to investigators, Williams coordinated payment through a third party, meeting with Taylor just hours before his arrest. Cell tower records reportedly confirmed the meeting took place in West Ashley, a neighborhood situated south of North Charleston.
Forensic experts located a single, unfired bullet at Taylor’s residence that matched ammunition found at the scene, further tying him to the slaying. While law enforcement has not identified a clear motive for the contract killing, Williams was taken into custody late last month following his transfer from state prison to the local jail to face the new charge. Williams is expected back in court on Oct. 17 for an initial appearance.
Taylor’s criminal record includes prior convictions for offenses such as burglary, unlawful carrying of a pistol, and disturbing schools. Despite his history, officials say the murder-for-hire case stands out for its calculated nature and the degree of evidence marshaled against Taylor.
DeAndre Rivers, the victim, was remembered by those close to him as gentle, loyal, and deeply loved. An obituary described him as devoted to his family, passionate about basketball and travel, and soon expecting to become a father.
As Taylor heads to prison for the rest of his life, community members grapple with the loss of Rivers, whose death has left a lasting mark on North Charleston.