A shooting on Highway 90 in Horry County last week resulted in the death of a Nichols man following a multi-vehicle wreck near Star Bluff and Long Bay roads. Elijah Thurman Taylor from Nakina, N.C., faces murder and weapon possession charges and is detained without bond at J. Reuben Long Detention Center. Solicitor Jimmy Richardson doubts a self-defense claim based on video evidence.
Stand Your Ground Context
South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law, enacted in 2006 under Code Section 16-11-440, allows deadly force without retreating if someone reasonably believes they’re facing imminent death or serious injury while lawfully present and not breaking the law. Immunity from prosecution requires proving legal presence, no unlawful activity, and reasonable fear of harm, setting a high bar for pretrial rulings. Defendants frequently raise it, even if unlikely to apply, as in drug-related cases.​
Castle Doctrine Distinction
Related “castle doctrine” extends protections to homes, vehicles, or workplaces, presuming reasonable fear during unlawful entry and removing retreat duty there. It’s sometimes used pretrial as a delay tactic, now under higher court review. Richardson notes such claims arise routinely but succeed only with strong evidence.​
Local Relevance
This case ties into recent Myrtle Beach concerns over officer shootings and proactive messaging, highlighting ongoing Lowcountry debates on violence response and self-defense laws amid public safety pushes [conversation_history].
