Share and Follow
Left: Damarion Nealy (15th Judicial Solicitor”s Office). Right: Gregory Johnson II (Ocean View Funeral Home).
Damarion Nealy, now 18, admitted guilt to involuntary manslaughter regarding the 2025 death of his 20-year-old uncle, Gregory Johnson II, in Horry County, as reported by the 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. At the time of the incident, Nealy was 17 and has been sentenced under the youthful offender act, meaning his imprisonment will not exceed five years.
According to the prosecution, Nealy was a passenger in Johnson’s vehicle while his uncle was shooting a pistol at deer in a wooded area. Johnson then gave the firearm to Nealy, asking if he wanted to try shooting. Given Nealy’s age, this was illegal.
Prosecutors detailed that Nealy aimed the gun at Johnson’s head, applying enough pressure to the trigger to fire the weapon, which resulted in Johnson being struck in the head. Subsequently, Nealy left the scene, and Johnson succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
Nealy pointed the gun at Johnson’s head with “his finger on the trigger with enough pressure to discharge the weapon,” according to prosecutors. The shot hit Johnson in the head. Nealy then fled the scene and Johnson died a short time later.
Nealy later admitted that he was holding the gun and it “went off.”
“The fact and the evidence of the case showed involuntary manslaughter was the appropriate charge in these circumstances,” James D. Stanko, a violent crimes assistant solicitor, said in a statement. “We feel this was a fair resolution to these tragic events.”
According to his obituary, Johnson had recently started a landscaping business with his father.
“Gregory’s entrepreneurial spirit convinced his dad to help him develop a landscaping business so that he could supplement his income. Gregory talked about doing other projects around the house like rebuilding Grandma’s old barn, renovating the shed, and adding to his house.”