Here’s why charges won’t be filed – for now – in double fatal Richland club shooting

No charges will be filed at this time in connection with the shooting deaths of two brothers outside a Richland County nightclub last month, Sheriff Leon Lott said Thursday.

The Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office reviewed all evidence compiled by Richland County sheriff’s investigators and determined no charges will be filed “at the time,” Lott said in a release Thursday.

Torance Lamar Peoples, 26, and Trevonne Judge, 23, were shot dead outside Black Pearl on Broad River Road around 3 a.m. Dec. 20, which was Peoples’ birthday, officials have said.

Investigators determined there was an argument between a group of people that included Peoples and Judge, along with 28-year-old Travontay Myers, 26-year-old Marcus Robinson and 23-year-old Jumanne Evins.

The argument that led to the shooting began inside the nightclub when a stripper’s money went missing, Lott said Thursday. The men went outside, and an argument ensued with shots being fired.

Guns were found near Judge’s and Peoples’ bodies at the scene, Lott said. Myers, who fled after being shot multiple times, was later found at a hospital in Charlotte. The weapons found at the scene were a match for the ballistics that wounded Myers.

Judge showed Robinson and Myers that he had a gun, at which point Robinson retrieved his gun from his car as the argument continued, Lott said. Witnesses told investigators the shooting started simultaneously on both sides, with multiple shots fired. Further investigation led investigators to arrest Evins as the person who stole the dancer’s money, which set off the deadly chain of events.

Evins has been charged with larceny. Myers and Robinson were wanted on unrelated charges from other counties

“It's tough to determine by witnesses accounts who actually initiated the shots fired,” Lt. Curtis Wilson said. He noted that it’s possible the decision on charges could change, if someone else comes forward with information that could change the investigation.

“We know that it was a huge crowd out there, and there are others who haven't come forward yet,” he said. “We're asking them to come forward to give us their account.”

The nightclub, which Lott said operated illegally as a strip club, has been shuttered as part of a crackdown on sexually oriented businesses posing as drinking establishments.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crimestoppers at 888-CRIME-SC. Callers will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

This story was originally published January 11, 2018 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Here’s why charges won’t be filed – for now – in double fatal Richland club shooting."