No bond set for Aiken man charged in killing of Virginia teen in Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — An Aiken man is facing murder and several attempted murder charges for his role in an early morning shooting last week that took the life of a 16-year-old Virginia basketball star.
Gary Jaquise Abraham, 18, is facing one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to Myrtle Beach jail intake records.
Abraham’s arrest is in connection with the July 20 shooting of Jakolbi Taylor, who was in the city for an AAU basketball tournament.
Wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs, Abraham made an initial appearance Sunday in Myrtle Beach Municipal Court, where bond wasn’t set. He’ll go before a 15th Circuit Court judge Sept. 20 where one could be set.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department said on its Facebook page Sunday that Abraham’s arrest came through multi-agency coordination with Aiken County authorities and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Taylor was from Roanoke, Va., where he starred at Patrick Henry High School. He was shot at the 16th Ave N. beach access point just after 1 a.m.
In a statement to News13, Taylor’s mother Jessica said Abraham’s arrest was only the start of closure for her family. A police report said an unspecified number of suspects scattered across the beach after Jakolbi was shot.
“I have some ease knowing someone is in custody, but it’s not just ‘someone’ whose actions have to be held accountable,” she said. “We want all responsible and as a group be charged for the heinousness of their actions.”
More than 1,000 people attended a celebration of life on Saturday for Jakolbi, where Rev. J.L. Jackson echoed Jessica’s comments.
“I have pastor friends in Myrtle Beach. I have friends the NAACP and SCLC in Myrtle Beach. I told them, ‘make some noise until we can hear you in Roanoke,'” Jackson said. “How dare y’all let that happen in Myrtle Beach.”
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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