SOCASTEE, S.C. (WBTW) — The estate of a 23-year-old man who was shot and killed outside Barfield’s Bar and Grille in October 2023 has filed a wrongful death suit against the establishment.
Attorneys for Starquan Washington say Barfield’s, neighboring Klocker’s Tavern and a contracted security firm called Big Beach Bouncers all failed to provide adequate safety on the night of Oct. 18.
Washington’s aunt Cassandra Strothers provided News13 with the following statement on Friday.
“A year later and we as a family are still grieving and heartbroken. I am particularly offended by the gross reduction of the offense’s charges to involuntary manslaughter. Now, couple this with the fact that [the] offender is able to walk about freely, while my son and his supposed friend lies dead in a casket, the audacity of him and the prosecution and the judicial process that I am supposed to trust. My faith is as shattered by the Judicial process as my heart is shattered by the senseless loss of my son. This lawsuit is merely a formality for negligent conduct but make no mistake, it can never be nor serve as a substitute or cure for the degree of pain that my heart is enduring or for absence of a brother to his sisters. I do not wish this agony upon anyone, no parent should have to bury their child. Where is the true justice for Starquan Washington?”
Big Beach Bouncers told News13 on Wednesday that the company said its employees weren’t involved in the incident. The company said it was contracted by Barfield’s, which closed for the evening shortly before the shooting happened.
The spokesman said the shooting occurred in front of Klocker’s and the company was only retained to provide security at Barfield’s and were off-duty at the time of the incident.
“We ensure the safety of all of our guests, like we always do,” the spokesman said.
Kvon Tyrese Lawhorn, 24, initially faced counts murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime for his role in the incident, but had the charges downgraded to involuntary manslaughter.
Barfields-wrongful-death-suit Download He was released from jail to home detention in February.
‘It’s really difficult to heal’: Aunt of man killed in Socastee bar shooting reacts to suspect’s downgraded charge It happened at about 2:30 a.m. outside Barfield’s Bar & Grille in the 4000 block of the Highway 17 Bypass, according to police and the coroner’s office. Police said Lawhorn was detained after the shooting.
According to an Horry County police report, police arrived within four minutes of being dispatched. Lawhorn and one of the victims had been drinking alcohol. The other victim had not been drinking.
The owner of Klocker’s Tavern, which is next door to Barfield’s, told News13 a day after the shooting that Barfield’s was closed and that his bar was closing when the shooting happened. He said he heard fighting outside and then gunshots.
He also said Lawhorn had been banned from Klocker’s but not from Barfield’s.
A News13 reporter talked to Rachel Barfield, the owner of Barfield’s restaurant on Oct. 19, and she disputed claims that the shooting happened on the property at her business. She also said some of the bar’s employees knew the victims and that a benefit is planned for Friday night at the bar.
There had been multiple incidents of violence throughout the years in the area near where Wednesday morning’s shooting happened.
One person went to the hospital with a gunshot wound in Januar y after a “large fight” and shooting in the area between Barfield’s and Klocker’s Tavern, according to Horry County police. The person’s injuries were not life-threatening.
One person was hurt by glass after a shooting at Klockers in June 2022 , and in June 2018, the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office filed a petition to close Klocker’s, the Remedies Bar and Grill and Audry’s Lounge for at least a year because of multiple shootings and public-nuisance complaints.
“Due to the previous violence and other criminal activity on the premises of Klocker’s Tavern and Barfield’s Bar and Grille, and the nature of Barfield’s Bar and Grille and Klocker’s Tavern, all Defendants were on actual and/or constructive notice and had a duty to protect, screen efficiently, warn and provide security for invitees,” Washington’s lawsuit claims.
Barfield in November sent a lengthy text message to a News13 reporter amid efforts by state regulators to revoke her establishment’s alcohol license.
The bar’s owner, Rachael Barfield, replied to a News13 reporter in a subsequent text message and said the “whole story has been completely twisted.”
“Our bartender took his gun because we do not allow weapons in our building so he thought he was doing what was right to protect our customers,” Barfield said. “Him ‘giving’ him the gun was when we closed to return his property. If Klockers wouldn’t have stayed open past 2 a.m. none of this would have happened.”
Barfield later defended her business in another statement emailed to News13.
“For the 4 years Barfield’s has served Socastee, we have been blessed to have a diverse team and clientele,” Barfield said. “Our team includes parents, former police, bank tellers, cloggers, baseball coaches, and ex military. Our team has created a safe space and has made every effort to curb violence on our property or during business hours. Since moving to our new location we have had security guards pat down customers as they enter our premises because we have a zero tolerance policy for weapons.”
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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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