NEWBERRY — The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office has charged Shunolon McKenize Renwick, 23, of 3708 Maybinton Road, Whitmire, with murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime following Tuesday’s murder investigation.
On Tuesday, just after 1 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to shots fired in the parking lot of Valmont Industries. Valmont is a long-standing industry in Newberry County located on Highway 76 — just outside the City of Newberry.
When deputies arrived they found the victim lying in the parking lot. Newberry County EMS and Newberry Rescue responded and found the victim non-responsive. The Newberry County Coroner’s Office was called and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece identified the victim as Javoka Jekel Toland, 22, of Newberry. An autopsy was performed on Wednesday, but at the time of this publication the Coroner’s Office has not released information from the autopsy.
During the investigation, Sheriff Lee Foster said investigators were able to develop a suspect in the shooting. During the search for the suspect Renwick, along with his attorney, came to the Sheriff’s Office.
Ultimately, Renwick was taken into custody and was charged with the murder of Toland.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the murder occurred as a result of an ongoing dispute between the two men.
“This is such a waste and unnecessary,” said Foster. “We are living in a time where people find it easier to take one’s life rather than seeking other ways of settling arguments.”
Law enforcement affirmed during the investigation that this was not a case of an active workplace shooting, but a dispute that ended tragically in the parking lot.
According to Foster, Renwick had an initial rights appearance in court the day after the murder, but his bond will need to be set by a circuit judge.