The quiet of a Darlington County afternoon was shattered by gunfire on Monday, leaving 21-year-old Chandler Martin dead on a rural stretch of road where violence is almost unheard of. Deputies with the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched around 2 p.m. after multiple 911 callers reported shots fired near the intersection of Piano Road and South Charleston Road. By the time first responders arrived, the young man from Florence lay motionless beside the road, the gunshot wounds he sustained fatal before paramedics could even begin life-saving efforts.
Coroner Todd Hardee later confirmed Chandler Martin’s death at the scene, marking yet another tragic loss for a community that rarely sees this kind of brutality. Investigators quickly cordoned off the area, combing the roadside for shell casings, tire tracks, and any evidence that could point them toward what happened in those final moments. Yet as of Tuesday, authorities have released few details—no suspects named,
no arrests made, and no clear motive shared with the public.Neighbors in the area described hearing several sharp cracks echoing through the trees, followed by the unmistakable silence that comes when something terrible has occurred. For Chandler’s loved ones, the lack of answers only compounds their grief. Friends say he was a kind-hearted young man, always willing to lend a hand and never known for trouble.
The Sheriff’s Office has appealed to anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that even the smallest tip could help solve the case. But for now, the stretch of Piano Road where Chandler Martin’s life was taken remains both a crime scene and a symbol of loss—proof that violence can find its way even into the most peaceful corners of South Carolina.
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