Attorney: Man killed his longtime friend over $300, then bought meth in Myrtle Beach
An argument over $300 ended with a Galivants Ferry man dead and his killer headed to Myrtle Beach to buy drugs.
The man who pulled the trigger learned this week he would spend decades in prison for his crime.
Jonathan Allen was in Horry County court on Wednesday, when he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Judge Steven John sentenced Allen to 25 years in prison instead of the maximum 30-year term. Police initially charged Allen with murder after the July 2017 shooting.
Assistant Solicitor O’Bryan Martin laid out in detail Allen’s actions on the night he killed 43-year-old Boyd Graham.
The two men, who were longtime friends, disagreed over a $300 loan Graham gave Allen. Graham wanted his money back, but Allen refused. The two exchanged phone messages about the money.
Allen got a semi-automatic, .380-caliber gun and drove to Graham’s home with three friends. There, Allen went to kick in his porch door, but a washing machine blocked the entry.
Graham went to open another door, which is when Allen confronted Graham by putting the gun in his face. Graham ran inside as Allen gave chase.
“[The witnesses] heard a pop and the defendant emerged covered in blood,” Martin said.
Allen shot Graham in the head, but the wound was not initially fatal. Martin described how Graham was alive after being shot. He didn’t die until he lost too much blood.
Allen left briefly, but then returned to search for the bullet casing and Graham’s cellphone. Police later found the phone in Allen’s car.
While still covered in blood, Allen went to a swamp area where he dumped the gun. He then went to a home to wash off the blood and then to a friend’s house for a change of clothes, Martin said.
Allen then went to Myrtle Beach and bought 7 grams of meth.
Martin said he wanted to detail the crime so it was clear the killing was not an accident or in self-defense.
“They were intentional,” Martin said of Allen’s decisions. “They were methodical and he went by the book to cover up what he did.”
Defense Attorney Ronald Hazzard said Allen’s drug habit was to blame for the killing. Allen has been “grief-stricken” over the shooting, his attorney said. Hazzard also blamed the state for causing the delay to conclude the three-year-old case because prosecutors only recently turned over evidence.
Members of Graham’s family sat in the gallery, just feet away from Allen, who is now 29 years old and spoke to the court. Allen said he could not take back what happened and asked for mercy in his sentence.
“If I could take it back, I would,” Allen said. “I apologize.”
Allen Graham, the victim’s brother, said he has known Jonathan Allen for decades. Had Jonathan Allen taken responsibility early in the case, Allen Graham said he would have probably asked for leniency. Instead, he pleaded for the maximum.
“I’m glad its over, that he’s finally admitted what he’s done,” Allen Graham said. “It just seems like he has no remorse.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
