Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
A family altercation turned deadly last week.
On Tuesday, September 17, deputies from the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to a double shooting that left one victim dead and another injured. A third person was arrested.
"Deputies responded to Barnwell City Fire Department and Hwy. 64 in the Friendship area in reference to a related shooting incident. The victim at the fire department was transported to the hospital for treatment. Upon arrival on Hwy. 64 residence, Matthew Shane Baxley was found deceased," stated Sheriff Steve Griffith.
At the fire department, victim Harvey Joyner was treated by firefighters until EMS arrived to take him to the hospital. He had suffered a gunshot wound to his face. However, he has since been released and returned home, according to his daughter Teresa Grubbs in a Facebook post. She asks people to “continue to pray for healing physically, mentally and emotionally.”
At the Highway 64 scene, 31-year-old Matthew Baxley was pronounced dead by the coroner and his mother, 49-year-old Julie Baxley, was taken into custody and later charged with Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime and Attempted Murder (in connection to the shooting of Joyner). A bond hearing was held September 18 where bond was denied. Baxley is related to Joyner.
"While this is an ongoing investigation and further details cannot be released, the Barnwell County Sheriff's Office has no evidence that there is any danger to the public as a result of this incident," stated the sheriff's office.
The BCSO provided a heavily redacted incident report where about five of the six pages were blacked out. The sheriff cited the active nature of the investigation, how it’s a “complicated situation” and how they are awaiting test results, said Griffith.
“I can understand why the sheriff might feel the situation is complicated – it usually is when state power is used to deprive one of its citizens of liberty – but his statutory duty is to identify which exemption is being claimed for the redactions. ‘Complicated’ doesn’t cut it under Title 30, Chapter 4 of the S.C. Code of Laws,” said Taylor Smith, a media attorney who represents the S.C. Press Association and its member newspapers.
Arrest affidavits for Julie Baxley provide a few details about what allegedly transpired.
“In that the defendant shot the victim, Harvey Joyner, with a .380 handgun during an altercation between the victim, Harvey Joyner, and the defendant’s son, Matthew Baxley, in which the victim, Harvey Joyner, shot Matthew Baxley in self-defense,” according to the affidavit.
The case remains under active investigation.
