Boynton Woodrow O’Brien

Boynton Woodrow O’Brien, known to everyone as “Tony,” was a man whose skills and passions were deeply rooted in the community and landscape of Hampton, South Carolina. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on August 14, 1974, the 51-year-old was the son of Vicki Johnson O’Brien and the late Boynton Woodrow O’Brien, Sr. By trade, he was known as an excellent electrician and a talented jack-of-all-trades, a go-to person for help in local construction. Beyond his work, he was an avid outdoorsman and a great fisherman, finding peace and joy in the rural quiet of the Lowcountry. His life, however, was violently cut short in that same quiet landscape.

On the evening of Monday, November 3, 2025, a brutal act of violence unfolded on a remote stretch of Altman Road near the historic Whippy Swamp Bridge. Around 8 p.m., deputies from the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire. Arriving at the dimly lit scene, flanked by dense swampland, they discovered two men who had been shot. One was Boynton O'Brien, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of Hampton County Emergency Medical Services, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim, who was not publicly identified, was seriously wounded and airlifted to a hospital in Savannah, Georgia, for medical treatment.

The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched a homicide investigation, closing the Whippy Swamp Bridge for several hours as crime scene units with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division processed the area for evidence. Investigators believed O'Brien and the other man were traveling in a pickup truck when another vehicle pulled alongside them and someone inside opened fire. Hampton County Coroner Anna Fields notified O'Brien's grieving family, and Sheriff Anthony Russell extended "heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. O’Brien." Officials assured the public that they believed it was an isolated incident and there was no ongoing threat.

The investigation quickly zeroed in on a person of interest. On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the sheriff's office issued a public bulletin announcing they were actively searching for 40-year-old Jerome Warren in connection with the deadly shooting. Authorities warned that Warren should be considered armed and dangerous and urged citizens not to approach him. A cash reward of $5,000 was offered for any information that could lead to his arrest. Investigators suggested the shooting may have stemmed from a road-rage incident that began earlier that evening at a convenience store.

The search for Warren came to a conclusion just over a week later. On November 14, 2025, the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office announced that Jerome Warren had been taken into custody without incident. Following his arrest, he was officially charged with the murder of Boynton O'Brien.

The arrest marked a significant step forward in the case, bringing a sense of relief to a community shaken by the violent loss of one of its own. Friends and family remembered Tony O'Brien as a "one of a kind type of man" and a "great friend." His obituary noted he was survived by his mother, Vicki, a special friend, Tahnee Goode, and many aunts, an uncle, and cousins. As of late November 2025, the case against Jerome Warren was proceeding through the judicial system, though a motive had not been officially confirmed by law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities continue to ask anyone with relevant information to contact the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 1-866-942-1120.