Nine charged in 2021 deadly crash and shooting on 385...
In the early morning hours of May 23, 2021, a Chevy Impala carrying two brothers was in an altercation with multiple other vehicles on 385N near Old Stage Road. According to the Mauldin Police Department, gun shots were fired and the Impala crashed into a barrier, killing Rashon and Andrekus Irby of Laurens. The brothers were ejected from their vehicle and died at the scene. Many others were also injured during the incident.
In a press release (below), Police said the crime scene spanned more than a half-a-mile "and was littered with weapons, shell casings, bullet fragments and other evidence."
Uncooperative witnesses and lack of leads stymied the case. In 2024, it was reopened and after a months-long investigation, charges were brought forth.
Seven of the nine suspects were taken into custody Friday, February 21, 2025 and are currently in the Greenville County Detention Center. Two other suspects will be extradited from other states.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MAULDIN POLICE DEPARTMENT:
MAULDIN, S.C. — The Mauldin Police Department has charged nine individuals in connection with a 2021 crash and shooting incident on I-385 that led to the death of brothers Rashon Javarous Irby, 29, and Andrekus Davarous Irby, 31, both of Laurens. The incident — which took place on I-385 near Old Stage Rd during the early morning hours of May 23, 2021— also left multiple people injured. MPD will hold a press conference to discuss the charges today at 4:30 p.m. in the courtroom at City Hall at 5 E. Butler Rd.
The following suspects have been charged in connection with the incident, with the charges listed below each individual:
Joshua Montai Emmanuel McGowen, 26, of Transylvania, NC
Discharging into VehicleReckless Homicide x 2
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Great Bodily Injury
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death x 2
Conspiracy
Ziquavious Keandre Covington, 26, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Conspiracy
Daniel Malik Cunningham, 25, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Reckless Homicide x 2
Conspiracy
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Great Bodily Injury
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death x 2
Aziz-Muhammad Jeffery Judge, 28, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Conspiracy
Braylon Demarkques McBeth, 27, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Reckless Homicide x 2
ConspiracyLeaving the Scene of an Accident with Great Bodily Injury
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death x 2
Marcus Antonio Dillard, 29, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Conspiracy
Jaquan Rashik Cain, 27, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Reckless Homicide x 2
Conspiracy
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Great Bodily Injury
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death x 2
Malcolm Jamar Fuller, 28, of Laurens, SC
Accessory After the Fact
Conspiracy
Karl Everett Robinson II, 32, of Blackwood, NJ
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Great Bodily Injury
Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death x 2
The Mauldin Police Department conducted a joint operation with the following law enforcement agencies to apprehend all nine suspects on Friday, Feb. 21: US Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force of Greenville and Asheville, US Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, US Marshals District of South Carolina, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Laurens Police Department and South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.
Seven suspects are currently being held at the Greenville County Detention Center, and two will be extradited from other states.
“We’re holding everyone accountable for their role in an incident that never should have happened,” said Lt. Kevin Cox, Investigations supervisor. “This incident stemmed from a fight that began in Laurens and continued into Mauldin, where gunshots rang out going down the highway, two people tragically lost their lives and several others were injured.”
At approximately 2:16 a.m. on the morning of the 2021 incident, the Irby brothers were passengers in a white Chevrolet Impala heading north on I-385 when an altercation occurred with multiple other vehicles, at which time gunshots were fired. Ultimately that led to a vehicle collision, and the Impala crashed into the barrier on I-385, ejecting two individuals from the car.
The Irby brothers died at the scene, and multiple other people were injured during the incident. The resulting crime scene spanned more than a half-mile long and was littered with weapons, shell casings, bullet fragments and other evidence.
This case has been investigated by multiple officers and detectives at the Mauldin Police Department with few leads and several uncooperative witnesses. The lead investigator on the case, Detective Jenna Willson, reopened the investigation in 2024, and after a months-long investigation, was able to work with the Solicitor’s Office to make charges in the incident.
With nine suspects now charged and in custody, the case has been turned over to the Solicitor’s Office.
“These charges underscore the Mauldin Police Department’s commitment to protecting the community and holding criminals accountable, no matter how long it takes,” Police Chief George Miller said. “I’m proud of the hard work done by our investigators to bring a resolution to this complicated case and seek justice for the victims and their families, and I’m grateful to our partner law enforcement agencies for their assistance with arresting all nine suspects without incident.”