Tragic Death of Young Athlete Exposes Devastating Plot as Multiple Teenagers Face Murder Charges in Shocking Case

A quiet South Carolina community has been forever changed by a devastating tragedy that has revealed the dark depths to which teenage conflicts can spiral when jealousy, betrayal, and violence converge. The shocking case has exposed not just a single act of violence, but an alleged conspiracy involving multiple young people that culminated in the senseless death of a promising student-athlete whose life was cut tragically short.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, leaving residents struggling to comprehend how a dispute among teenagers could escalate into such devastating consequences. What began as what authorities describe as a love triangle has evolved into one of the most disturbing criminal cases involving multiple juveniles that law enforcement in the region has encountered, raising profound questions about youth violence and the devastating impact of modern technology on criminal behavior.

The case has garnered national attention not only for its tragic outcome but also for the alarming number of young people allegedly involved in planning and executing what authorities characterize as a deliberate plot. The involvement of the victim’s own girlfriend in the alleged conspiracy has added another layer of heartbreak to a case that has already devastated multiple families and an entire community.

The Victim: Trey Dean Wright

Trey Dean Wright was a 16-year-old rising sophomore at Johnsonville High School who embodied the promise and potential that makes such tragedies particularly heartbreaking. Born on October 9, 2008, in Hartsville, South Carolina, Trey was known throughout his community as a vibrant young man with an infectious personality and a bright future ahead of him.

As a proud varsity athlete, Trey played both football and baseball for Johnsonville High School, demonstrating the kind of dedication and teamwork that coaches and teammates had come to expect from him. His athletic achievements were matched by his reputation as someone who could light up any room he entered, with friends and family consistently describing his infectious smile and natural ability to make others laugh.

“He was a true outdoorsman who loved riding dirt bikes, spending time in nature, and living life to the fullest,” his obituary noted, painting a picture of a teenager who embraced life with enthusiasm and joy. “Known for his infectious smile and ability to make everyone laugh, Trey was the kind of person who left a lasting impression on those around him.”

Beyond his athletic and academic pursuits, Trey worked at Vox Deer Processing, a local business on the outskirts of Johnsonville, demonstrating the work ethic and responsibility that his family had instilled in him. He was described by those who knew him as someone who was “good for people’s souls,” with a happiness that was described as contagious and a natural inclination to spread joy wherever he went.

Trey lived in Scranton, a small town just a 20-minute drive from where the tragic events unfolded, and was raised in a loving family environment that had given him strong values and a positive outlook on life. His connection to his community was strong, and his loss has been felt deeply by everyone who knew him.

Trey Dean Wright was gunned down after an alleged altercation (GoFundMe)

The Fatal Night: June 24, 2025

The events that led to Trey’s death unfolded on the evening of June 24, 2025, when the teenager was allegedly lured to a remote location on North First Neck Road near Johnsonville. According to law enforcement officials, the meeting was orchestrated by individuals who knew that a confrontation was likely and that at least one person present would be armed.

At approximately 11:30 PM, Florence County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a shooting on the rural road. When they arrived at the scene, they discovered Trey lying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. The remote location, described as a desolate stretch of road in the Johnsonville community, had been specifically chosen for the confrontation, according to investigators.

Emergency medical services immediately transported Trey to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals fought to save his life. Despite their efforts, the injuries he sustained proved fatal, and he died the following day on June 25, 2025. The loss of such a young life under such violent circumstances sent shockwaves through the community and launched what would become an extensive criminal investigation.

The scene that law enforcement discovered that night was one that would haunt investigators and provide crucial evidence for the prosecution of those allegedly responsible. According to authorities, the shooting was captured on video by at least one of the individuals present, creating disturbing evidence of the final moments of Trey’s life.

The immediate response by law enforcement was swift and comprehensive, with Florence County Sheriff’s deputies, the Horry County Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Bureau all becoming involved in the investigation and subsequent arrests.

The Alleged Conspiracy and Love Triangle

According to law enforcement officials, the motive for Trey’s murder stemmed from what Sheriff TJ Joye described as a love triangle involving the victim, his 17-year-old girlfriend Gianna Kistenmacher, and the alleged shooter, 19-year-old Devan Scott Raper. The complex relationship dynamics created a volatile situation that ultimately escalated to deadly violence.

“This was an altercation between two people,” Sheriff Joye explained to local media. “It’s not like I’m just going to go to Johnsonville and shoot somebody. They had issues with each other and it was over a female. The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?”

The investigation revealed that the confrontation was not a spontaneous occurrence but rather a planned event orchestrated by multiple individuals who were allegedly aware that violence was likely to occur. According to arrest warrants and statements from law enforcement, several of the charged individuals knew that Raper was armed and had made threats against Trey prior to the fatal encounter.

Major Michael Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office explained the scope of the alleged conspiracy: “They were complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation. They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants.”

The role of Trey’s girlfriend in the alleged plot has been particularly devastating for his family and the community. Kistenmacher has been charged as an accessory before the fact, with authorities alleging that she brought Raper to the crime scene while knowing he was armed and likely to use violence against her boyfriend.

The Primary Suspect: Devan Scott Raper

Devan Scott Raper, a 19-year-old from Conway, South Carolina, has been identified as the alleged shooter in Trey’s death. According to law enforcement, Raper was the individual who actually fired the shots that killed the teenager, following what authorities describe as a verbal altercation that quickly escalated to deadly violence.

Raper was arrested on June 25, 2025, just one day after the shooting, and has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He has been denied bond and remains in the Florence County Detention Center as he awaits trial for charges that could result in a life sentence if he is convicted.

The investigation revealed that Raper’s involvement in the case was not limited to the night of the shooting. According to court records, he had previous legal troubles, having been arrested by Conway police in August 2024 on charges related to accessory after the fact to a felony. While those charges were ultimately dismissed in February 2025, they provide context for his prior interactions with the criminal justice system.

Law enforcement officials have indicated that Raper had made previous threats against Trey and had displayed a firearm in connection with those threats. The premeditated nature of these actions has strengthened the prosecution’s case and contributed to the decision to charge multiple individuals with murder rather than lesser offenses.

The distance between Conway, where Raper lived, and the crime scene represents about a 40-minute drive, indicating that the confrontation required significant planning and coordination among the alleged conspirators to bring all parties to the remote location.

The Girlfriend’s Alleged Betrayal

Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this case for Trey’s family has been the alleged involvement of his girlfriend, 17-year-old Gianna Kistenmacher of Myrtle Beach. According to law enforcement, Kistenmacher played a crucial role in orchestrating the events that led to her boyfriend’s death.

Kistenmacher has been charged as an accessory before the fact, with authorities alleging that she brought Raper to the crime scene while knowing he was both armed and likely to kill Trey. The nature of this alleged betrayal has added an additional layer of trauma for Trey’s family, who must grapple not only with their son’s violent death but also with the knowledge that someone he trusted may have played a role in his murder.

According to court documents and statements from law enforcement, Kistenmacher was allegedly aware of the threats that had been made against her boyfriend and knew that Raper was armed when she facilitated their meeting. This knowledge, according to prosecutors, makes her criminally liable for the death that resulted from the confrontation.

The psychological complexity of a romantic relationship that could lead to such a devastating betrayal has been difficult for the community to understand. Friends and family members have struggled to reconcile the person they thought they knew with the allegations that have been brought against her.

Kistenmacher was previously a student at Atlantic Collegiate Academy, where she participated in cheerleading and soccer. The contrast between her public persona as a student-athlete and the serious criminal charges she now faces illustrates the complexity of understanding how young people can become involved in such serious criminal behavior.

Additional Suspects and Their Alleged Roles

Beyond Raper and Kistenmacher, seven additional teenagers have been charged in connection with Trey’s death, creating one of the largest group prosecutions for murder involving juveniles that the region has seen. The additional suspects include both adults and minors, reflecting the wide range of ages involved in the alleged conspiracy.

Hunter Kendall, 18, Corrine Belviso, 18, and Sydney Kearns, 17, have been publicly identified as additional suspects, all of whom are believed to live in the Myrtle Beach area. Each has been charged with murder under South Carolina’s “hand of one being the hand of all” legal doctrine, which allows prosecutors to charge multiple individuals with the same crime when they act in concert.

Four additional suspects, who are minors, have also been charged but their names have not been released due to their juvenile status. According to Major Nunn, these individuals were also “complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation.”

The decision to charge so many individuals with murder, rather than lesser offenses, reflects the prosecution’s belief that all of the charged individuals played significant roles in planning and executing the events that led to Trey’s death. As Major Nunn explained, “The decision was made, again with investigators, in consultation with the solicitor’s office to charge each of them.”

Several of the charged individuals have been released on bond, while others remain in custody. The variation in bond decisions reflects the court’s assessment of each individual’s role in the alleged conspiracy and their risk of flight or danger to the community.

The Role of Technology and Social Media

One of the most disturbing aspects of this case has been the reported use of technology to document the crime itself. According to law enforcement officials, at least one of the individuals present during the shooting recorded the events on video, creating graphic evidence of Trey’s final moments.

The existence of such video evidence has provided prosecutors with powerful documentation of the crime, but it has also raised troubling questions about the mindset of young people who would choose to record such violence rather than intervene to prevent it. The decision to document the shooting suggests a level of premeditation and callousness that has shocked investigators and the community.

The use of social media and digital communication among the alleged conspirators has also provided investigators with a digital trail of evidence that has helped piece together the planning and coordination that preceded the shooting. Text messages, social media posts, and other digital communications have become crucial evidence in building the prosecution’s case.

The prevalence of smartphone technology among teenagers has fundamentally changed how crimes are both committed and investigated. While digital evidence can provide powerful tools for prosecution, the ease with which graphic content can be created and shared has also created new challenges for law enforcement and new forms of trauma for victims’ families.

Law Enforcement Response and Investigation

The investigation into Trey’s death has involved multiple law enforcement agencies working in coordination to identify, locate, and arrest the individuals allegedly responsible for his murder. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office has led the investigation, with assistance from the Horry County Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and other agencies as needed.

Sheriff TJ Joye has been forthright in his communications with the community about the nature of the crime and the motivations behind it. His characterization of the murder as resulting from a dispute “over a female” has helped the community understand the underlying dynamics while emphasizing the senseless nature of the violence that resulted.

The investigation has been notable for its scope and the speed with which arrests were made. The first arrest, of alleged shooter Devan Raper, occurred just one day after the shooting. Additional arrests continued over the following weeks as investigators uncovered the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.

Major Michael Nunn has served as the primary spokesperson for the investigation, providing regular updates to the media and the community about the progress of the case. His explanations of South Carolina’s legal doctrines regarding group culpability have helped the public understand why so many individuals have been charged with murder.

The coordination between multiple agencies has been essential given the geographic spread of the alleged conspirators, who came from different communities across the region. The ability to quickly locate and arrest individuals across multiple jurisdictions has demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in complex criminal cases.

Community Impact and Response

The impact of Trey’s death on the Johnsonville community has been profound and lasting. As a small town where everyone knows everyone, the violent death of a promising young athlete has left residents struggling to process not only their grief but also their shock at the nature of the crime.

Local residents have described Trey as exactly the kind of young person who represented the best of their community – hardworking, athletic, friendly, and full of potential. His death has forced the community to confront difficult questions about youth violence and the factors that can lead young people to make such devastating choices.

The involvement of multiple teenagers in the alleged conspiracy has been particularly difficult for the community to understand. The fact that so many young people could allegedly participate in planning and executing such violence has challenged assumptions about the nature of their community and the values being instilled in its youth.

Community members have rallied around Trey’s family, providing support through formal and informal networks. A GoFundMe page established to help with funeral expenses has provided a way for the broader community to express their support and solidarity with the grieving family.

The case has also prompted discussions about warning signs and intervention strategies that might prevent similar tragedies in the future. Community leaders, educators, and parents are grappling with questions about how to better support young people who may be struggling with relationship conflicts or other issues that could escalate to violence.

The Victim’s Family and Their Quest for Justice

Trey’s mother, Ashley Lindsey, has become a powerful advocate for justice for her son, speaking publicly about her loss and her determination to see those responsible held accountable. Her strength in the face of unimaginable tragedy has provided an example of resilience for others who are grieving.

“My baby never deserved not one thing that happened to him, period. He was one in a million,” Lindsey told local media. “He was good for people’s souls. His happiness was so contagious. He always spread joy and he was one of the most kind-hearted kids you’d ever meet. I will fight for justice for my baby. If it takes every last breath in me.”

The ongoing legal proceedings have been particularly difficult for Trey’s family, as each court hearing serves as a reminder of their loss while also representing steps toward potential justice. Lindsey has expressed frustration with the lengthy legal process, telling reporters that “All this court hearing and bond court and stuff is driving me crazy.”

The family has also had to grapple with the complex emotions surrounding the alleged involvement of Trey’s girlfriend in his death. The betrayal of trust that such involvement represents has added another layer of trauma to their grief, making the healing process even more challenging.

Despite their pain, Trey’s family has consistently emphasized his positive qualities and the impact he had on others during his short life. They have worked to ensure that his memory is defined by the joy and kindness he brought to others rather than by the violence that ended his life.

Legal Proceedings and Challenges Ahead

The prosecution of nine teenagers for murder in connection with Trey’s death presents significant legal challenges for both the prosecution and the defense. The use of South Carolina’s “hand of one being the hand of all” doctrine to charge multiple individuals with murder will require prosecutors to prove that each defendant played a substantial role in the alleged conspiracy.

The mix of adult and juvenile defendants creates additional complexity for the legal proceedings, as different courts and procedures may be required depending on the age and specific charges for each individual. Some of the younger defendants may be eligible for different sentencing options or rehabilitation programs not available to adult defendants.

The existence of video evidence of the shooting, while providing powerful documentation of the crime, also creates ethical and procedural challenges for the court system. The graphic nature of such evidence requires careful handling to ensure that it serves the interests of justice while minimizing additional trauma for the victim’s family and the community.

Defense attorneys for the various defendants will likely pursue different strategies based on their clients’ alleged roles in the conspiracy. Some may argue that their clients were merely present but not active participants in planning or executing the violence, while others may challenge the prosecution’s characterization of their clients’ knowledge and intent.

The case is likely to result in plea negotiations for some defendants, particularly those who may have played lesser roles in the alleged conspiracy. The willingness of defendants to cooperate with prosecutors could affect both their own sentences and the strength of the case against other defendants.

Broader Implications for Youth Violence Prevention

The Trey Dean Wright case has highlighted several concerning trends in youth violence that extend beyond this specific tragedy. The alleged premeditation involved in planning the confrontation, the number of young people allegedly involved, and the use of technology to document the violence all represent aspects of modern youth crime that challenge traditional approaches to prevention and intervention.

The role of social media and digital communication in facilitating criminal behavior has become an increasingly important consideration for law enforcement and educators. The ease with which young people can coordinate activities and share content, including violent content, has created new challenges for parents, schools, and community organizations working to prevent youth violence.

The case has also highlighted the importance of early intervention in relationship conflicts among teenagers. The love triangle that allegedly motivated this violence represents the kind of interpersonal drama that is common among adolescents but rarely escalates to such deadly consequences. Understanding how to identify and intervene in such situations before they become violent is crucial for prevention efforts.

Mental health resources and conflict resolution education have emerged as key areas of focus for communities seeking to prevent similar tragedies. The ability to help young people develop healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with jealousy, rejection, and other difficult emotions could be crucial in preventing future violence.

The Path Forward for Healing and Justice

As the legal proceedings continue and the community works to heal from this tragedy, the memory of Trey Dean Wright serves as both a reminder of what was lost and an inspiration for positive change. His family’s determination to seek justice, combined with the community’s commitment to supporting one another, provides a foundation for moving forward.

The case will likely continue to unfold over many months as the legal system works to determine appropriate consequences for those allegedly responsible for Trey’s death. The complexity of prosecuting multiple defendants with varying degrees of alleged involvement will require careful attention to ensuring that justice is both thorough and fair.

For the community of Johnsonville and the broader region, the healing process will involve not only dealing with the immediate trauma of this tragedy but also working to understand how such violence can be prevented in the future. The lessons learned from this case could help other communities recognize warning signs and implement intervention strategies that might save lives.

Ultimately, the legacy of Trey Dean Wright should be defined not by the violence that ended his life but by the positive impact he had on others and the determination of those who loved him to ensure that his death was not in vain. Through their advocacy for justice and their commitment to preventing similar tragedies, his family and community can honor his memory while working to create a safer future for other young people.