A North Charleston man charged in a deadly January shooting says he is physically incapable of committing the crime because of life-altering injuries sustained in a car accident months earlier.
North Charleston Man Denies Role in Deadly Santee Shooting
Zaquan Shaquez Jamison, 20, is facing murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and a weapons charge in connection with the Jan. 13 shooting death of 17-year-old Ja’Mereion “Mari” Deangelo Crawford.
According to investigators, Jamison and another suspect opened fire on a home on Boo Circle in Santee, unleashing 27 rounds from a handgun. Witnesses reported seeing two people run to a waiting vehicle and drive away.
Warrants claim the shooters even laughed as they fled the scene.
Jamison’s Defense: Burn Injuries Make Him Incapable
At his Aug. 29 arraignment before Santee Municipal Judge Chasity Avinger, Jamison showed the court his severely burned and fractured hands, claiming he could not physically fire a gun.
Jamison said the injuries came from an October 2023 car crash in Orangeburg County, after which he was treated at the Augusta Burn Center.
“These hands are fractured. These hands can’t pull a trigger. They can’t even bend,” Jamison told the judge.
He added that his parents plan to file a lawsuit in response to the charges.
Victim’s Family Opposes Bond
Crawford’s mother attended the arraignment remotely and pleaded with the court to keep Jamison behind bars.
“We just want justice for Ja’Mereion. That’s all. Justice for my son.”
Jamison, addressing her directly, said:
“If I’m found not guilty, I would like to sincerely apologize on Facebook. That’s all.”
Arrest and Custody
After being identified as a suspect by Santee police, Jamison voluntarily contacted Charleston County dispatch and arranged to turn himself in on Aug. 15. He was booked at the Al Cannon Detention Center before being transferred to Santee police custody.
Authorities said Jamison had been flagged as “armed and dangerous,” but he was taken into custody without incident. He is currently held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center, where a circuit court judge will later decide whether to grant bond.
If convicted, Jamison faces up to life in prison.
The case against Zaquan Jamison is shaping up to be a contentious one, hinging on whether his injuries truly prevent him from handling a firearm. While the victim’s family demands justice for a son whose life was cut short, Jamison insists he is physically incapable of the crime. The upcoming bond hearing and trial will determine how the evidence weighs against his claims.
