Judge denies bond for suspect in deadly shooting outside Florence mall

FLORENCE, S.C. (WMBF) - One of the suspects in a shooting that ended the life of a 15-year-old outside of a Florence mall will remain in jail.

Javon Norman appeared for his bond hearing on Tuesday in Florence County, where a judge denied his bond for his armed robbery charge.

The municipal court judge could not set a bond for murder due to the severity of the charge. A bond on the murder charge will be set by a circuit court judge at a later date.

But during Tuesday’s hearing, the judge did set bond for Norman’s criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during the commission of violent crime charges at $200,000 each.

Norman and an unnamed 15-year-old boy were arrested in connection to the deadly shooting. The boy is facing the same charges as Norman.

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Police said two suspects wearing masks came up to the victim’s car in the parking lot on Sunday afternoon. One of the suspects then fired an unknown amount of shots and killed 15-year-old Avery S. McDonald.

Authorities are calling it a “targeted” shooting.

Latta Town Councilman Marcus McGirt knew McDonald for years and called him a great kid and respectful.

“Not the news that was expected, that’s not the phone call that I expected to receive because even with someone who was full of life, he was full of joy, he was always smiling, he didn’t talk much, he didn’t say much, but when he did speak, he spoke,” McGirt described.

He added that the tragic shooting is shedding a light on the bigger issue of violence among young people in Florence County and surrounding areas.

“Sometimes we have to pull together in moments of this, but we need to learn how to do this without these kind of moments, without the tough times, without the sad times,” McGirt said. “We need to try to come together and be on one accord to help everybody collectively so that way we can reach one, teach one and save all.”

Florence police are still searching for a third suspect in the shooting, which happened in the Magnolia Mall’s parking lot.

On Tuesday the department released additional surveillance pictures of the third suspect in the case.

Police said if anyone has any information on the person’s whereabouts they are asked to call LCpl. Leggett at 843-665-3191 or email at dleggett@cityofflorence.com.

People can also leave tips about this case by CLICKING HERE to access the police department’s tip submission form.