Bennettsville, SC — A young life was tragically cut short on the night of January 26, 2026, as 18-year-old Towan Harrington was fatally shot near the Bennets Pointe Apartments on Cheraw Highway. By the time officers responded to the scene, it was already too late. Towan had been conscious long enough to seek help after the shooting, but his injuries were so severe that he succumbed to them before any medical intervention could be made.

The timeline of events paints a grim picture: Towan, despite being gravely wounded, made an effort to seek assistance, showing that he understood the seriousness of his condition. Tragically, his efforts weren’t enough. Chief Deputy Larry Turner of Marlboro County described the attack as violent and sudden, noting the sheer brutality required to take the life of someone so young in such a short span of time.

Local law enforcement, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bennettsville Police Department, have launched a full investigation into Towan’s death. A forensic autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause and manner of death, but for his grieving family and the community, the tragedy is already all too real.