Tyler Deshayne Heyward was convicted of murder by a Charleston County jury for the 2023 killing of Wesley Francis and sentenced to life in prison by Judge Jennifer McCoy. The shooting occurred shortly after 5 a.m. on November 10, 2023, at a Circle K gas station at Meeting and Calhoun streets in downtown Charleston, where Heyward fired 18 shots at Francis, 16 of which struck the victim, with no prior altercation.
Case Details
Surveillance video from the Circle K and a nearby Tesla captured Heyward exiting a Nissan Altima, approaching Francis, and opening fire. The vehicle belonged to his girlfriend’s mother and was tracked via license plate readers and street cameras to the crime scene and his girlfriend’s home in Hollywood, South Carolina. Police recovered the murder weapon from Heyward’s bag there, with his DNA on the gun and gunshot residue on the vehicle’s steering wheel and gearshift.
Victim Background
Wesley Francis, 23, worked as a server at The Tempest restaurant and had recently launched a pop-up restaurant with a friend before the random attack.
Defendant History
Heyward had a documented history of mental illness, including multiple hospitalizations, and prosecutors noted his marijuana use may have worsened his condition. Solicitor Scarlett Wilson highlighted risks of chronic marijuana use in young people, particularly for schizophrenia, but stressed it did not excuse the violence.
Prosecution
Solicitor Scarlett Wilson and Daniel Cooper handled the case, praising Francis’s family for their patience and support while emphasizing community safety.
