Jaimen Tisdale, 23, was sentenced to 55 years in prison in South Carolina for murdering 25-year-old Miqueas Lopez during an attempted robbery in North Charleston on July 13, 2023, after following him and others who had just cashed paychecks from electrical work.
Tisdale and his girlfriend, Mariah McAteer, 24, waited outside a convenience store with their two infants in the car, then tailed Lopez, his brother, and cousin for over 10 minutes. When the victims pulled over, Tisdale exited with an AR-15 rifle, approached the driver’s side, and fired into the vehicle at close range, killing Lopez with a head wound; his relatives escaped unharmed.
McAteer pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder, three counts of attempted armed robbery, and two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. Tisdale was convicted of murder, weapon possession during a violent crime, three attempted armed robberies, and two child endangerment counts, despite claims the shooting was accidental.
Surveillance cameras enabled quick arrests, countering Tisdale’s defense that he followed due to suspicion. Prosecutors highlighted the targeted depravity, noting he preyed on perceived vulnerability.
This case underscores the dangers of armed robberies involving innocents and children, with harsh sentences reflecting community safety priorities in Charleston County.
