Suspect sought for fatal Myrtle Beach area shooting

A man was shot and killed this morning in Socastee and police are searching for a suspect.

But no information is being released about the person sought or any potential motive for the shooting.

Horry County Coroner Robert Edge Jr. said 28-year-old Sylvester Smart Jr., of Myrtle Beach, was killed early this morning at Strand Mobile Home Park off of Dick Pond Road, near the intersection of S.C. 544. and S.C. 707.

Police responded to a call to that location at 2:09 a.m. and found Smart, Edge said.

Smart was pronounced dead at 3:10 a.m. at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

Edge said an autopsy was conducted this afternoon but he could not release any more details about the shooting.

Lt. Bob Carr of the Horry County Police Department said the case is under investigation by the detective's division.

"They're trying to follow up any kind of leads that will help us solve this case," Carr said.

He said currently there are "no details about the suspect of motive in this case."

Smart has a lengthy criminal record, according to the 15th Judicial Circuit.

The most serious crime in his record is armed robbery. In 2000 Smart was sentenced to six years in jail after he pled guilty to armed robbery.

Strand Mobile Home Park has been the scene of fatal violence before.

In March 2009, a woman stabbed her boyfriend to death at a residence on Sea Oats Drive.

This latest fatality at Strand Village is the first in the area since May 19 when Edwin Donnell Salters, 21, of Myrtle Beach, was shot multiple times in the head.

Five people are facing charges related to that killing.