CONWAY, S.C. – A man was sentenced to life in prison for his role in a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 32-year-old father outside an apartment complex. Jurors in Horry County found Jaquan M. Frinks guilty of murder following a trial that wrapped up Friday.
The incident occurred on the evening of July 9, 2022, when Frinks drove a 2018 black Jeep Cherokee into the Shady Moss Apartments on Wright Boulevard. Witnesses reported that he cruised slowly through the complex, passing Christopher Willis Mitchell, who was sitting with his two-year-old son and the child’s mother, Malayasia Garner.
Frinks backed into a parking spot where he had a clear view of the victim before pulling forward and stopping again in the street. An accomplice, who remains unidentified, rolled down the passenger side window and opened fire with a .223-caliber rifle, targeting Mitchell and his family.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that at least 16 rounds were fired. Mitchell was shot six times and succumbed to his injuries. Garner, attempting to shield her son, suffered a gunshot wound to her right eye, resulting in a permanent loss of vision. Fortunately, the child escaped unharmed.
The prosecution highlighted Frinks’ actions in the days leading up to the shooting, detailing how he communicated with others about plans to commit the murder and later dispose of the vehicle in Myrtle Beach.
After deliberating, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict, leading to a life sentence for Frinks, who will not be eligible for parole or any form of supervised release. The case has left the local community in shock and mourning, grappling with the senseless loss of life and the violence that unfolded before families at their home.
Authorities continue to seek information on the accomplice involved in the shooting. The tragic incident has raised concerns about safety in the area and the increasing violence affecting neighborhoods. As the community processes this event, local leaders are advocating for measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.