U.S. Air Force member charged in connection to double murder in Myrtle Beach
A second person died from injuries sustained in a shooting at a Myrtle Beach police and officers arrested the man they say owned the car seen driving from the scene.
On Monday, officers responded to Allen’s Food Basket off U.S. 501 near Canal Street for the shooting.
Darius Hemingway, 30, died in the shooting’s immediate aftermath. Cpl. Thomas Vest confirmed on Thursday that a second person died. The Horry County Coroner’s Office has not released the name of the second victim. Three other people were hospitalized and one person was treated at the scene.
On Thursday, Myrtle Beach police announced the arrest of Samuel Alexander Frye, 21. He is an active-duty airman in the U.S. Air Force. Officers charged him with accessory after the fact to a felony or murder.
He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Frye made his first court appearance on Friday morning in Myrtle Beach Municipal Court. Detective Chris White said a vehicle registered to Frye’s name was seen leaving the location after the shooting.
Frye initially tried to report the car stolen, then told officials at his Air Force base that he needed a ride to work because he lost the keys. The keys were found on Frye when he got to work, White said.
The car was then sold, though White said Myrtle Beach investigators have found and took control of the car.
Frye said he joined the air force at 18 years old to get away from problems in his neighborhood in New Jersey.
“Somehow, I don’t know why, my name got mixed up in the investigation,” Frye said.
Assistant Solicitor James Stanko noted that Frye has recently traveled internationally and has ties to both New Jersey and North Carolina. He asked that bond be denied in the case.
“Given the fact of the extremely violent nature of everything that happened there, we most certainly feel that he is a danger to the community if he is allowed out on bond,” Stanko said.
The victim’s family was not allowed in the hearing because of COVID-19 restrictions and because of the technicality that an accessory after the fact is a victimless crime. Several declined to comment before and after the hearing.
Judge Scott Long set bond at $250,000 and ordered GPS monitoring for Frye. He also has to surrender his passport.
This story was originally published October 15, 2020 at 4:23 PM.
