Suspect from fatal shooting near Broadway at the Beach appears in court to argue DNA
The 43-year-old man accused of gunning down a kidnapping victim as he tried to escape from the trunk of a car will have to give his DNA to police.
Javaline Tyree Dawkins was charged with murder in connection to the shooting and was in Horry County court on Friday to discuss several issues related to his case. Dawkins has been held in jail without bond since the incident nearly two years ago.
In June 2018, Myrtle Beach police responded to Highway 17 Bypass and 29th Avenue near Broadway at the Beach for a reported shooting. Officers found Ryan Bryant, 27, in the road and tried to provide aid. He went to the hospital, where he died about an hour later.
Investigators say Dawkins and Bryant planned to meet for a drug deal, and Dawkins then kidnapped Bryant.
Bryant was trying to escape out of the trunk of a Cadillac when Dawkins shot and killed him, police say.
As part of Friday’s hearing, prosecutors asked a judge to order Dawkins to provide a DNA sample so it could be tested against material found in a car from the shooting.
Defense Attorney Tommy Brittain questioned the state and two cops about why police didn’t get Dawkins’ DNA after his arrest. He said federal authorities already have Dawkins’ DNA as he served time in federal prison.
“This would extend this case well beyond what is reasonable,” Brittain said about the time it would take to test Dawkins’ DNA.
Senior Assistant Solicitor Nancy Livesay said lab officials said they could test Dawkins’ DNA within 30 days. She also said the state can’t test DNA from other sources, such as from the federal system.
Brittain also questioned a police officer about how Dawkins could be arrested without DNA evidence. A Myrtle Beach detective said he was charged based on witness statements and video surveillance.
Judge Craig Brown found enough evidence to order Dawkins to provide a DNA sample.
The judge, however, passed on setting bail in the case and said another judge would have to consider whether Dawkins should be released ahead of trial.
Livesay said the state believes the two-year-old case can be scheduled for trial around mid-June.
The state also informed Dawkins they plan to seek life in prison without parole as a punishment if he is convicted. Livesay said that request is based on Dawkins’ previous carjacking conviction.
