Police Chief W. H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook announces two arrests in connection with the fatal shooting of Julian ‘JuJu’ Keel on June 2, 2024. This announcement comes four months to the day that Keel’s life was taken. At the time of the shooting, Keel was 16 years old; just two days shy of his 17th birthday.
In Sumter County early this morning, members of the United States Marshal Service’s (USMS) Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force including an embedded CPD officer and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) arrested 20-year-old Tonie Wilson. He is housed at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and charged with Murder, Possession of a Weapon during a Violent Crime, and Breach of Peace of a High and Aggravated Nature.
The afternoon, the second suspect, a 16-year-old juvenile was arrested in the Gaston area of Lexington County. He faces the same charges plus, Possession of a Firearm under the age of 18. He’s currently being charged as a juvenile. At the time of the shooting, the teen was on supervised release and wearing an ankle monitor for motor vehicle theft.
Case Recap:
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on June 2, 2024, CPD officers responded to a ‘shots fired’ call at 1410 Colonial Life Boulevard at ‘Roll-Out Wangz Egg Rollz and Thangz.’ It was the venue for a high school graduation party that was attended by more than 100 people, including Keel and his friends.
While responding to the location, officers were informed that at least one person had been struck by gunfire. During the initial investigation, CPD investigators determined that two different groups exchanged gunfire in the parking lot of the venue.
Among those groups arguing were suspect Tonie Wilson and the juvenile suspect on opposing sides. It is believed that both parties argued before the shooting occurred.
Keel was an innocent bystander when he was struck by gunfire as he and a friend were attempting to leave the party in a vehicle.
CPD crime scene techs collected more than 50 spent shell casings from the scene. Investigators seized four different firearms during the investigation including a 300 Black Out assault-style weapon, believed to be the weapon that fired the fatal shot.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) expedited and processed numerous pieces of evidence in the case, including developing DNA profiles and latent fingerprints from the murder.
Even though the murder weapon was not stolen, CPD Investigators submitted the firearm through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) e-Trace, which is CPD’s standard protocol. The person who purchased the firearm was identified and interviewed by investigators and admitted to selling the weapon through the “dark” web. ATF continues to investigate the purchase and sale of the firearm.
ShotSpotter technology played a vital role in this investigation by identifying the sequence of events surrounding the shooting, and the time and location of the shots fired.
Early on, CPD investigators did not receive Crimestoppers tips. However, they recently received information that helped corroborate information developed by CPD investigators.
Additional arrests in this investigation are pending.
Assisting agencies on this case include:
Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office
Lexington County Sheriff’s Office
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
USMS Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force