Jonathan Henry Gordon-Charles was 16 when he was shot and killed on Waxwing Drive in Florence, South Carolina, on January 8, 2026. Known to family and friends as Lil JonHenry, Johnny Boy, or Jon, he attended South Florence High School and had a strong interest in music.

Investigators from the Florence Police Department and SLED determined the shooting was a homicide arising from an argument during a transaction for a THC vape pen. In the days after the killing a 14-year-old male was arrested and charged with Jonathan’s murder; the youth was held at the Department of Juvenile Justice and a judge denied bond.

The community reacted to Jonathan’s death with calls for greater youth safety; the Florence City Council passed the final reading of a teen curfew ordinance in the aftermath. Jonathan’s family and friends remembered him for his infectious laughter and smile. If anyone knew Jonathan or has information about the shooting, please come forward.