Beaufort Co. family reeling after suspect in murder case charged with new Columbia murder

by Aaron Dixon

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - A Beaufort County family seeking justice for the 2019 killing of Tormenta FC soccer player Trey Blackshear says they are devastated after learning the remaining suspect in the case has now been charged in another South Carolina murder.

Authorities say Xavier Barnes has been arrested and is accused of shooting and killing Maurice Green in Columbia last summer.

Investigators allege Green’s body was later hidden in Orangeburg County. Barnes is currently being held at a detention center in Richland County.

Out on bond in Beaufort County case

Barnes has been out on bond in Beaufort County since 2021, according to court records, while awaiting trial in the Blackshear case.

He is accused of being the alleged mastermind in Blackshear’s 2019 murder.

The Blackshear family says the new arrest has renewed their frustration with how long the Beaufort County case has taken to reach a final resolution, and they believe the Columbia case may not have happened if Barnes had not been released on bond or if the Beaufort County case had moved faster.

Nearly seven years of waiting

It has been nearly seven years since Blackshear’s death.

Three of the four suspects connected to the case have either been sentenced or reached plea deals.

The only remaining defendant is Barnes.

Barnes previously testified against the shooter, Terrance Wing, who was later sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Amy Howerton, a lifelong friend of Blackshear’s mother, said the family listened closely when Barnes took the stand two years ago.

“I wanted, with him doing the right thing, to believe that this was somebody who could be rehabilitated,” Howerton said. “When I saw him testify, I knew that was not without some serious changes in his attitude and his life.”

Bond conditions and calls for reform

Court records show Barnes’ bond conditions included electronic monitoring, a curfew, no contact with Blackshear’s family, and restrictions against possessing drugs or a gun.

Blackshear’s family says that despite Barnes’ “cooperation” in testimony, he remains accused of their loved one’s death and should not have been free while awaiting trial.

“He should never have been out to walk the streets,” Howerton said.

Family members are now calling for changes to how bond decisions are made, including more consistency and greater consideration of victims’ families.

“There should start to be just more consistency within bonds and definitely paying attention to what the person has done when he was being watched and certainly what he is doing with his life after the fact.”