‘He was in my face’: Brother of slain driver in SC road rage saw sibling get shot
Five minutes. That’s how long it took from the time Obryan Greenwood talked to his brother on the phone to when his sibling was gunned down along the side of the road.
Paul Jones Greenwood had called his brother about 7:37 a.m. on Jan. 6, 2026, to say that he had been in a crash along Highway 90 in the Longs area of Horry County. He asked his brother if he could come and pull his pickup truck out of a ditch.
Obryan Greenwood got there about three minutes later, only to see his brother being shot. He heard the gunshots and then “I saw him fall,” Greenwood said.
“I covered him up in the road with a sheet,” Greenwood said.
Judge denies bond to shooter
Obryan Greenwood was one of several family members who spoke in court Thursday during a hearing for Elijaih Thurman Taylor, who is charged with murder in Paul Jones Greenwood’s death.
Taylor appeared before a judge to request that he be released on bond. The 23-year-old North Carolina man has remained in jail since he was arrested in the killing of the 33-year-old Nichols man.
Taylor showed no emotion during the hearing, staring straight ahead or hanging his head as the case was laid out before the judge.
Horry County Police have said that Taylor shot Greenwood several times in the back with a pistol after the two became involved in an altercation following a three-vehicle accident.
The judge ultimately denied bond to Taylor, who was sent back to jail to await trial.
‘He was in my face’
Paul Jones Greenwood was on his way to work that morning when he sideswiped a vehicle and then rear-ended another near Star Bluff Road.
One of the drivers of those vehicles was Taylor, who was also on his way to his job at a concrete business along Highway 90.
While all three drivers waited for police to arrive, tensions grew among the two men. Videos, filmed by the third driver involved in the crash, show the men repeatedly taunting one another and telling each other to get out of their face. The witness attempts to calm the situation, but the arguing continues.
At some point, Taylor allegedly went back to his vehicle to get his gun, according to testimony in Thursday’s hearing.
On the video, the argument continues to escalate between Greenwood and Taylor before Taylor issues an ultimatum: “You’ve got one more f***in’ time to get in my face.” Greenwood, who responds, “I’ve got one more time?” then walks toward Taylor.
Taylor then pulls a gun from his waistband. Upon seeing the gun, Greenwood turns to run, but only gets two to three steps before Taylor fires the gun, striking Taylor in the back, Violent Crimes Assistant Solicitor James D. Stanko told the judge. The fatal shot was behind Greenwood’s ear, Stanko said. Greenwood died at the scene.
Greenwood’s brother testified that he had asked Taylor why he shot Greenwood. “He was in my face,” Taylor told the brother.
‘That little blue-eyed boy’
Taylor was described by his mother and attorney as being a “good young man.” He was willing to help his family and had no criminal history.
“I still remember him as that little blue-eyed boy I cared for,” said Taylor’s mother, Jennifer Taylor.
Jennifer Taylor declined to comment Thursday after the hearing.
Taylor lives in North Carolina, near Whiteville, and drove across the state line to South Carolina for his job.
His attorney, Morgan Martin, reported that Taylor has received threats while in J. Reuben Long Detention Center and online.
Greenwood loved his kids and trucks
Greenwood was engaged to be married and had three children. They are ages 18, 7 and 3.
His oldest is set to graduate from high school in June. She talked during the hearing about how her father will miss the big moments in her life, including seeing her walk across the stage at graduation.
Greenwood has been described by family and friends as a loving father and family member. He was known for his laugh, cheerful personality and love for trucks.
‘Shouting match to murder’
After the shooting, Taylor remained at the scene and waited for police to arrive.
Khadijah Hemingway, the driver involved in the accident who filmed the shooting, had just dropped off her daughter when she was hit by Greenwood, who was driving a white pickup truck. The truck driver tried to swerve to miss a Honda Civic, driven by Taylor, but couldn’t, and ended up in the ditch, Hemingway previously said.
Hemingway said at the time that she knows Greenwood’s mother, who live in the Longs area.
Greenwood was shot in the small of his back, ribcage and behind his ear, the state reported.
When police arrived, Taylor was taken into custody without incident, reports said.
The crash was described as a “fender bender,” something that could have easily been dealt with through insurance, which Greenwood had.
Instead, it escalated from a “shouting match to murder,” Stanko said.
