15-year-old charged in shooting death of Myrtle Beach Middle School student

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A 15-year-old has been charged in the shooting death of a 13-year-old in Horry County, police said on Wednesday.

The unnamed juvenile, who is from the same household, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of 13-year-old Jaiden Smalls. They were taken to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

Horry County police responded just after midnight on Sept. 1 to Terrace View Court for a shooting. Police said the shooting was an “isolated incident involving juvenile residents in the same household.”

“Our thoughts are with the family as they navigate multiple forms of grief in this difficult time,” the department said on Wednesday.

Smalls was a student at Myrtle Beach Middle School. Horry County Schools released a statement shortly after his death.

“[The district] was made aware of the tragic loss of Jaiden Smalls, a Myrtle Beach Middle School student, over the weekend. While the investigation is ongoing, we will continue to respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time. The death of a student has a ripple effect on a school community; therefore, Myrtle Beach Middle School is providing counseling services to any student or staff who may need additional support.”

“In my understanding at this time, there are no other/additional charges expected related to the shooting itself,” Horry County police told News13 on Wednesday.

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Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here .

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