DILLON, South Carolina — The Dillon community was shaken on the night of Friday, March 13 when 31‑year‑old Avery Blackmon was found shot and unresponsive near West Calhoun Street. Police say the call came in just after 8:18 p.m., and officers arriving on scene discovered Blackmon lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Dillon County coroner.
Neighbors described Blackmon as a familiar local face whose life came to a sudden end that evening. Emergency responders and police worked quickly, but there was little they could do to save him. Blackmon’s death left family and friends struggling to make sense of the loss in a town still trying to understand what led to the violence so close to home.
In the days after the shooting, investigators with the Dillon Police Department followed leads and spent hours piecing together what happened that night. Officers interviewed witnesses, reviewed evidence, and worked alongside the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to build their case.
By Wednesday, March 18, authorities had identified a suspect in the case. Twenty‑eight‑year‑old Matthew Lee Scarborough Jr., also of Dillon, was taken into custody and charged with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Blackmon’s death. Scarborough is currently being held at the Dillon County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.
For those who knew Blackmon, the news of an arrest brought a bittersweet sense of closure. While charges have been filed, many in the community said the loss still weighs heavily, reminding them of how quickly life can change and how deeply a single act of violence can affect a small town.
Investigators continue to look into the case to determine the full sequence of events that led up to the shooting. Police officials emphasize that, under the law, Scarborough is presumed innocent until proven guilty, even as the case moves through the legal system.
Officials also thanked the law enforcement teams whose tireless work helped identify and apprehend the suspect, expressing hope that cooperation between agencies can help bring justice for Blackmon’s family.
