Authorities: Horry County men who died in shooting shot each other

Two Horry County men were killed Monday night after they exchanged gunfire at a home near Little River, police said.

Marlin Coward, 34, and Branden Alston, 28, died after being shot in the incident that occurred about 8 p.m., Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said.

Authorities said Coward was found shot at his home on the 3300 block of S.C. 9 near Little River and later died at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

About 15 minutes later, police responded to a vehicle fire in the southbound lane of S.C. 31 between Robert M. Grissom Parkway and Water Tower Road. Officers found a Ford Bronco on fire with a wounded Alston inside.

He, too, later died at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

A third person was found wounded at the scene of the vehicle fire, but was not seriously hurt, said Horry County Deputy Solicitor Jimmy Richardson.

Richardson said it appeared Coward fired a gun in his home at Alston and the men traded shots before Alston left the home suffering from gunshot wounds.

The men had a brief argument earlier in the evening, but “there was really no reason for it,” Richardson said of the shooting.

Autopsy results showed that both men died from multiple gunshot wounds, Willard said Tuesday afternoon. Family members of the men could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

S.C. Law Enforcement Division records show that Coward and Alston each had previous charges, including unlawful carrying of a pistol or weapon.

Coward also had charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and sale to/possess by certain person a stolen pistol, according to SLED.

Horry County police Lt. Keith Strickland said Tuesday morning that detectives are investigating the deaths.

A portion of S.C. 31 was closed Monday night during the incident while emergency crews removed the burned Bronco.

The highway was reopened about 10:40 p.m.

Staff writer Janelle Frost contributed to this report.