.

South Carolina officials have said that a love triangle between three young adults led to the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy this summer and the arrest of nine other Myrtle Beach-area teenagers on criminal charges in connection with the murder.

Florence County Sheriff’s Office Deputies identified the victim as Trey Dean Wright of Johnsonville. The teen was found with multiple gunshot wounds on June 24 on First Neck Road, approximately 45 miles west of Myrtle Beach. Deputies said Wright was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers arrested 19-year-old Devan Scott Raper of Conway the following day, and say that he shot and killed Wright following an argument between the two. The officials have said that the fight was the result of a dispute between the two “over a girl.” Prosecutors have further alleged that at least one of the other teens at the scene had the shooting on video.

Girlfriend Charged as Accomplice

Days later, as authorities continued to investigate the murder, sheriff’s deputies announced that the girlfriend of the 16-year-old victim, 17-year-old Gianna Kistenmacher of Myrtle Beach, was among those arrested and charged. According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, she was charged with accessory before the fact to murder because it was alleged that she brought the shooter to the site of the fight while knowing that he was armed and able to harm her boyfriend.

“They were complicit in bringing the armed co-defendant, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation,” Florence County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Michael Nunn told WBTW-TV. “They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants.”

The sheriff’s office said that all five suspects charged in the early days of the case were automatically charged as adults because of state law.

Additional Teens Arrested Weeks After Murder

Weeks after the murder, as law enforcement officials expanded their investigation, nine additional teenagers were charged as suspects. Attorneys announced murder charges against three teens: 18-year-old Hunter Kendall and 17-year-old Sydney Kearns of the Myrtle Beach area, as well as Corrine Belviso, who is also 18 years old and is from the Myrtle Beach area.

In total, nine teenagers are now facing criminal charges in the death of Trey Wright. Prosecutors have charged some of the suspects with direct involvement in his murder, while others are accused of either assisting in his death, such as luring him to the site of the crime or not taking action to stop the killing from taking place.

“The hand of one being the hand of all is part of South Carolina law as well, so that’s the basis of the charge for each of those individuals,” Nunn said.

Wright’s Mother Says Heartbreaking Process for Family

For the mother of the victim, the arrests have not brought any sense of justice or relief. Ashley Lindsey told Fox News Digital that the last few weeks had been difficult for her as she dealt with the emotional and legal turmoil of the investigation and the death of her son.

“All this court hearing and bond court and stuff is driving me crazy,” she said. “I don’t even have time to sit down and think half the time, on top of losing my precious baby.”

A fundraising page on GoFundMe set up following the shooting showed a smiling Wright in an undated photo with a snake draped around his shoulders.

‘Stupid’ Case Started Over Rivalry

Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye said the case showed how “stupid” and unnecessary teen violence can be, particularly in cases that involve personal conflicts.

“They had issues with each other, and it was over a female,” Joye told reporters. “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?”

Jurisdiction of Teen Defendants

As of this week, Raper is in jail and has not posted bond on charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Kendall has not posted bond either.

Attorneys have set Belviso and Kearns on a $20,000 surety bond, and each was released from jail on bail.

Officials have declined to speak on the specifics of the case, other than to confirm that all of the suspects were charged as adults and will face serious felony charges.

A Serious Case Affecting the Entire Community

In a statement to FOX 43, prosecutors with the office of 14th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said the following about the case:

“We are aware of the case you are inquiring about. At this time we cannot release specific information as it is still under investigation. We will release more information as it becomes available and is appropriate.”

In a statement to Xpress News, a spokesperson for the 9th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, which also serves Myrtle Beach, said: “We cannot comment on the status of this investigation at this time, other than to say it is ongoing. We will have more information as it becomes available.”

The case has sent shockwaves throughout communities across Florence County and the Myrtle Beach area, particularly because the vast majority of the suspects are teens. The incident also appears to have been at least somewhat premeditated, according to officials who have said that several of the other suspects knowingly brought their friends to the site where Wright was shot and killed, even as they were aware of Raper’s threats against him and knowledge that Raper had a firearm. The prosecution will likely depend on both the “hand of one, hand of all” law in South Carolina that allows prosecutors to charge accomplices to a crime as if they themselves had committed the offense and on witness statements, arrest warrants, and possibly the video footage of the shooting itself.

In the meantime, though, the legal proceedings in the case have just begun for the family of Trey Wright. “On top of losing my precious baby,” the boy’s mother said, “I’m now forced to sit through court hearings and face the people who helped take him from me.”