A Horry County murder case involving Anijah Yarnell, charged in the 2020 shooting death of Michael W. Pennington III in Surfside Beach, is under appeal after a 2023 ruling granted Yarnell immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law. The judge found Yarnell acted in self-defense from his vehicle when Pennington allegedly tried to enter through a partially open window and door, with no provocation from Yarnell. The Solicitor’s Office contests this, arguing the unarmed Pennington and closed windows did not justify reasonable fear, and the appeal remains pending.
Stand Your Ground Law
South Carolina’s Protection of Persons and Property Act eliminates any duty to retreat if a person lawfully present faces a perceived threat, allowing deadly force in self-defense. This statute has fueled debates, notably in Yarnell’s case where he stayed in his vehicle during the confrontation. Courts assess factors like immediacy of threat and provocation through pretrial immunity hearings.
Related Case
In a separate 2023 incident, North Myrtle Beach businessman Weldon Boyd and Kenneth Williams shot and killed Scott Spivey in a road-rage event on Camp Swamp Road, avoiding charges after police deemed it self-defense. Spivey’s family lawsuit revealed conflicting evidence, and an upcoming hearing will decide Stand Your Ground immunity, potentially shielding them from prosecution and civil suits if granted. This highlights ongoing national scrutiny of the law’s application in high-profile South Carolina roadway shootings.
