Two 19-year-olds remain behind bars in Oconee County following a shooting into an occupied home near Seneca.
The Oconee County Sheriff's Office says Halen Nathaniel Reed of Liberty and Christopher Jwuan Williams of Greenville were arrested shortly before 2am Thursday morning, June 11,2026, after deputies heard gunshots near Doyle Drive and stopped a speeding vehicle.
Halen Nathaniel Reed OCSO
Investigators say an AR-15-style rifle was recovered from the car, and evidence linked the pair to shots fired into a residence on Mertie Drive.
Christopher Jwuan WilliamsOCSO
Both men each face five counts of attempted murder and one count of firing into a dwelling. Several adults and a child were inside the home, but no injuries were reported.
A third suspect, 22-year-old Aleigha Michelle Cawthon of Walhalla, faces conspiracy-related charges.
Aleigha Michelle Cawthon OCSO
According to an arrest warrant, Cawthon was not present when the crime occurred.
Official press release from the Oconee County Sheriff's Office below:
(Walhalla, SC) - Two teenagers remain in jail today after their arrest early yesterday morning on multiple counts of Attempted Murder in relation to a shooting incident. 19 year old Halen Nathaniel Reed, of Kennemer Lane in Liberty, and 19 year old Christopher Jwuan Williams, of Parker Road in Greenville, were booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 2:03am and 2:14am Thursday.
Both Reed and Williams have each been charged with five counts of Attempted Murder and one count each of Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling. Both Reed and Williams each received a combined $550,000 surety bond and both will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device, as a condition of bond, should they be released from jail.
Early Thursday morning, Deputies assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau, who were on routine patrol in the area of Wells Highway and Friendship Road, heard multiple gunshots originating from the direction of Doyle Drive, which is off S. Walnut Street near Seneca. The Deputies made their way to the area and patrolled the area. As they continued to patrol the area, a Deputy observed a white Honda Civic leave the area from where the gunshots originated.
The Deputy observed the Civic begin to travel at a high rate of speed. The Deputy initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Friendship Road and Imports Drive in order to conduct a further investigation. The Deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Reed, and the passenger, identified as Williams. While conducting the traffic stop, the E-911/Communications Center received a call from an address on Mertie Drive, which is off of Doyle Drive, regarding a residence that had been shot at.
Upon further investigation, Deputies learned that an AR-15 platform style rifle was located in the trunk of the Civic and Reed granted consent for Deputies to retrieve the rifle from the vehicle. Deputies also observed evidence from inside of the vehicle that a firearm had been discharged. Reed and Williams were placed under arrest and transported to jail.
As the investigation continued, Deputies learned that both Reed and Williams were responsible for the gunshots from the rifle that was fired into the residence on Mertie Drive. Deputies also responded to the Mertie Drive address and collected evidence from the scene and observed damage to the home from gunfire. The Investigation was turned over to an Investigator from the Criminal Investigations Bureau, who obtained arrest warrants against Reed and Williams. There were multiple adults inside of the residence and a child. No injuries were reported inside of the residence.
As the investigation continued, the Investigator in the case made a third arrest early Thursday evening. 22 year old Aleigha Michelle Cawthon, of Muller Road in Walhalla, has been charged with one count each of Criminal Conspiracy and Accessory before the Fact of a Felony. Cawthon was booked into jail at around 6:33pm yesterday. Cawthon remains in jail, at this time, pending a bond hearing.
According to information obtained during the investigation, Cawthon was charged with planning and conspiring with Reed and Williams to carry out the crime. Cawthon was not present when the crime occurred, according to an arrest warrant.
“This investigation, and subsequent arrests in the investigation, highlights the importance of having a fully staffed and equipped Sheriff’s Office that can conduct routine patrol operations on the roads and highways inside of Oconee County,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “The Deputies who initially responded were near the area and because of their proximity, they were able to respond quickly, begin an investigation and execute a traffic stop on a vehicle due to reasonable suspicion that the occupants may be involved, which led to the arrest of those who were responsible for this crime.” The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
