HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Two men have been found guilty in the 2022 shooting death of Dyquavyon “Quay” Dickens, a Pee Dee High School student, after a high-profile trial concluded Thursday.
A judge denied a motion for a new trial by 5:00 p.m. Thursday. Tai’yuan Jackson was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Jerelle Hickson was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Jackson received a 35-year sentence to run concurrently, while Hickson was sentenced to 30 years.
Both Jackson and Hickson declined to testify after discussing the decision with their attorneys. The judge instructed the jury not to interpret their silence as a sign of guilt.
During closing arguments, Jackson’s attorney emphasized that his client acted out of fear, not with intent to kill. He argued that Jackson believed shots were being fired and reacted in panic. “These people were afraid,” the attorney told the jury. Hickson’s attorney supported the argument, noting that voluntary manslaughter is defined as a killing in the heat of passion, without malice.
The prosecution, however, rejected those claims, stating there was no evidence of provocation or threat. Witnesses did not report any argument or confrontation before the shooting. They emphasized that Dickens was simply standing nearby when he was shot.
To support their case, prosecutors presented photos of Jackson and Hickson holding firearms the day of the incident and surveillance footage of the suspects turning on their vehicles’ headlights before the shooting—suggesting premeditation. Additionally, video evidence showed the defendants visiting a gas station the day after the shooting to remove stickers from their vehicles, which prosecutors argued was an effort to conceal their involvement.
The state also presented footage from a Ring camera allegedly capturing Hickson mimicking gunfire sounds and boasting about the shooting later that night.
Prosecutors pushed for a murder conviction, invoking the legal concept of transferred intent—where a person is held responsible if they intend to harm one individual but unintentionally harm another.
The defense tried to downplay the visual evidence, saying that posting with guns was reckless but not illegal. They challenged the lack of DNA or fingerprint evidence on the firearms and questioned why the people supposedly targeted in a Chevrolet Malibu were never brought to testify.
Hickson’s attorney argued that the prosecution relied heavily on video and one photograph, while key witness testimony was inconsistent. He questioned the credibility of a witness whose story changed just days before the trial, asking, “Why talk to her the weekend before the trial?”
He began and ended his closing remarks by urging the jury to “trust yourself” when evaluating the evidence presented.
Despite defense efforts, the jury returned guilty verdicts. The investigation is still ongoing and further charges remain possible.
