Officer Joseph John McGarry was killed on December 29, 2002, around 12:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a Dunkin’ Donuts on North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. The 28-year-old, a four-year veteran assigned to the Street Crimes Unit, and his partner recognized a man inside the restaurant as a suspect in a homicide from a month earlier. After the man, Luzenski Allen Cottrell, left the store, McGarry attempted a pat-down when Cottrell walked away, reached for his waistband, produced a .45 caliber handgun and shot McGarry in the face. His partner returned fire, wounding Cottrell in the leg as Cottrell fled with a female companion, 21-year-old Amber Alicia Counts.

A high-speed chase ended when police disabled the stolen 1996 Honda Accord Counts was driving; both Cottrell and Counts were arrested. Cottrell was charged with murder and related counts; Counts faced charges including accessory after the fact to murder and failure to stop for police. Cottrell was later convicted at trial, his initial death sentence was overturned on appeal, and he was again convicted and sentenced to death at a retrial. Anyone who knew Officer McGarry, the suspects, or witnessed the incident is asked to come forward with information.