Nine teens have surrendered to police over the murder of a 16-year-old who was lured to his death, with a tenth expected to do so in short order.
According to harrowing information offered by officials, Trey Dean Wright was shot dead in June after being tricked by his girlfriend, who helped to lure him to a remote area off a rural road in Florence County, South Carolina, where a group of teens were waiting for him.
Among them was Devan Scott Raper, 19, who had previously flashed at a gun at Wright and threatened to shoot him during an argument over a girl.
The pair began arguing again on the fateful night when he was tricked by his girlfriend, Gianna Kistenmacher, into walking into a trap. At least one of the teens present began filming, and was recording when Raper allegedly pulled the trigger several times, killing Wright.
Raper was arrested on June 25, one day after cop’s descended on the scene and found Wright ‘laying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds.’ In the weeks that followed, eight other teens were also charged with allegedly helping to arrange the murder.
Investigators allege the group were aware of Wright’s whereabouts and knew Raper was armed when they alerted him to his location.
A 10th suspect is expected to turn themselves in promptly. Florence County Sheriff’s Office, meanwhile, has confirmed the names of four others, including Wright’s 17-year-old girlfriend, Kistenmacher, who has been charged with accessory before the fact.
As per New York Post, cops determined that Kistenmacher likely knew Raper was armed and that she instigated the conflict between him and Wright.
Hunter Kendall and Corrine Belviso, both 18, and Sydney Kearns, 17, have also been arrested and charged. Their alleged roles in the murder are yet to be confirmed.
Florence County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Michael Nunn said the arrests were made after consultation with the solicitor’s office.
“The decision was made, again with investigators, in consultation with the solicitor’s office to charge each of them,” Nunn said.
“The hand of one being the hand of all is part of South Carolina law as well, so that’s the basis of the charge for each of those individuals.”
He added that those who had been charged were “complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation.”
Rest in peace, Trey Dean Wright.
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