BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Press Release

Three Suspects Arrested in Poppy Hill Road Drive-By Shooting
Beaufort, SC (August 7, 2008)
Andre Demonte Mitchell
Jason Lasalle Black

Kwamain Nix

Three suspects were arrested last night following a drive-by shooting on Poppy Hill Road.

At approximately 6:00 pm last night, deputies responded to the area of Poppy Hill Road and Ihly Road in reference to reports of shots fired. Upon their arrival, they met with several witnesses who advised that they had seen a black Mercedes driving back and forth on Poppy Hill Road. After several passes, a passenger in the vehicle began firing shots at victim, Willie Tolbert IV, who was walking down the road at the time. The vehicle then reportedly left the area at a high rate of speed. Tolbert sustained no injury during the incident.

Deputies began searching surrounding areas for the described suspect vehicle. A deputy responding to a traffic collision at the intersection of Hwy 21 and Seabrook Road noticed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle's description crossing the Whale Branch Bridge and broadcast the information to other deputies in the area. Another deputy was able to locate the described vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Hwy 21 at Washington Farm Road.

At that time, deputies made contact with the vehicle's driver, 30-year-old Andre Demonte Mitchell of Lobecco, and two passengers: 21-year-old Jason Lasalle Black of Sheldon and 18-year-old Kwamain Nix of Beaufort. Witnesses to the drive-by shooting were able to positively identify Nix as the suspect seen firing the shots at Tolbert, and Mitchell as the driver of the suspect vehicle at the time the shots were fired.

A search of the vehicle turned up three pistols, a quantity of suspected marijuana, and a quantity of suspected powder cocaine. All three suspects were subsequently placed under arrest and charged as follows:

Andre Demonte Mitchell:

      • Reckless Driving
      • Operating Uninsured Vehicle
      • Possession of Cocaine
      • Simple Possession of Marijuana
      • Unlawful Carry of a Pistol
      • Accessory to a Felony Before the Fact

Jason Lasalle Black:

      • Possession of Cocaine
      • Simple Possession of Marijuana
      • Unlawful Carry of a Pistol
      • Accessory to a Felony Before the Fact

Kwamain Nix:

      • Assault with Intent to Kill
      • Possession of Cocaine
      • Simple Possession of Marijuana
      • Unlawful Carry of a Pistol
      • Possession of a Pistol by a Convicted Felon
      • Providing False Information to Police

The drive-by shooting incident is believed to be part of a series of retaliatory shootings between Tolbert and Nix stemming from the May 13th, 2007 shooting incident at the Semper Fi Club in Beaufort. During that incident, Tolbert reportedly shot and injured Nix along with 19-year-old James Coleman and 19-year-old Eugene Deloach during an altercation. Tolbert was arrested on June 16 th on three counts of Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill.