‘They were just kids’: 2 teens killed after late-night Halloween shooting outside restaurant

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) — Authorities in South Carolina are investigating a shooting that killed two teenagers over the weekend.

Spartanburg Police Chief Art Littlejohn said officers were called to the Cook Out restaurant on John B. White Sr. Boulevard around 11:30 p.m. Saturday for multiple shots being fired.

When officers arrived, they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot.

While at the scene, the victims were given first aid before being taken to the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where they later died, Littlejohn said.

The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office identified those shot as 15-year-old Jayden Marek Watson and 17-year-old Shane Carter Dawkins.

Littlejohn said another person was also shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to the hospital by a family member.

“I want to be totally clear, the young people that were out here were not bad young people; they were just kids. After Halloween night, going trick-or-treating, going out to get something to eat, and then someone being irresponsible, pulled out a gun and started shooting,” Littlejohn said.

At this time, Littlejohn said no arrests have been made, nor have any suspects been identified.

Spartanburg authorities said the shooting remains under investigation.