A 15-year-old South Carolina teen allegedly involved in the murder of another teen in Conway last summer will face trial as an adult.
According to the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Family Court Judge Holly Wall made the decision on Thursday, ruling that Damien Rodriguez will be tried as an adult for murder, along with the attempted murder of two other juveniles.
On August 13, 2022, Rodriguez was charged in Horry County for the death of 14-year-old Christopher Noah Garrett (pictured), who was shot multiple times in a wooded area near his Conway home, according to Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard.
Myrtle Beach Sun News reports that senior assistant solicitor Caroline Fox said that the State pushed to have the case moved to General Sessions Court. The family court judge ultimately decided that the charges should be waived to the General Sessions court.
A Horry County police report indicated that responding officers “located a deceased juvenile lying on his back with multiple bleeding wounds. EMS responded and confirmed the juvenile was deceased.”
Details surrounding the motive behind the shooting have not yet been released.
An obituary for Christopher stated that he loved fishing and video games, along with “music, friends, and his girlfriend Maddie with all his heart.”
“Most importantly, Noah had a true love for all his family, friends, and every animal.”
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[Feature Photo: Christopher Noah Garrett/GoFundMe]
