Trial begins for man accused of ‘firing into a crowd of people’ at club in Myrtle Beach
People were dancing and enjoying the music inside Pure Ultra club on Nov. 5, 2017, until gunshots interrupted and injured five people. More than two years later, the man accused of pulling the trigger stands trial.
The state and defense both gave their opening statements in the trial of Cleavon Oneal Dantzler on Monday. Dantzler faces charges of attempted murder, two counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and being a person prohibited from having a gun.
“He made a deliberate act of pulling a gun out of his pocket and firing into a crowd of people,” Assistant Solicitor Seth Oskin said.
Five people were shot in the incident and Dantzler was one of the first people to leave the club, Oskin said. Pure, which was in the downtown Myrtle Beach Superblock, has since closed.
Defense attorney James Galmore told the jury that none of the witnesses will say they saw Dantzler pull the trigger.
“Nobody is going to testify that Cleavon Dantzler had a gun,” Galmore said.
There is no evidence in the case, Galmore said. Once the jury sees the surveillance video from the November night, they will be convinced the wrong person is on trial, he added.
Dantzler showed no emotions during opening statements as he sat at a table with two other attorneys. No witnesses were called during the first day, and the trial continued Tuesday. Dantzler will remain free on bond during the proceedings.
A judge also decided the jury will be allowed to hear Dantzler’s interview with the police. Officers questioned Dantzler for about 15 minutes, and Dantzler denied firing the gun several times.
“I ain’t shoot nobody,” he said.
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 8:08 PM.
