A Teenage S.C. Boy Was Fatally Shot — and Police Say a Teen Love Triangle Was Behind It

A 16-year-old boy from South Carolina was allegedly tricked into going to a place where he was shot and killed because of a love rivalry. Authorities have now arrested nine teenagers, including his girlfriend, in connection with his death.

One of the teens at the scene reportedly filmed Trey Dean Wright, 16, of Johnsonville, getting shot, police said.

The crime happened on June 24 at around 11:30 p.m., when deputies from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting call on First Neck Road near Johnsonville. They found Wright lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds, the FCSO said in a June 26 release.

Wright was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The next day, June 25, deputies arrested Devan Raper, 19, of Conway, for allegedly shooting and killing Wright during a verbal argument in Johnsonville, about 50 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, according to the sheriff’s office.

Raper is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, the sheriff’s office said in the release.

On June 30, deputies arrested another suspect, Gianna Helene Kistenmacher, 17, of Myrtle Beach, charging her with accessory before the fact of a felony, the sheriff’s office said in a June 30 release.

Investigators said Kistenmacher brought Wright, who is believed to be her boyfriend, to a remote part of First Neck Road “knowing that Raper was armed and that there would be a confrontation likely to lead to death,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking news, trial updates, and details on unsolved cases.

Sheriff T.J. Joye said the two teens “had issues with each other, and it was over a female,” as News 13 reports. “The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?”

On August 3, three more teens were arrested in connection to the shooting.

Hunter Matthew Kendall, 18, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested and charged with murder, according to online jail records.

Corrinne Elizabeth Belviso, 18, and Sydney Marissa Kearns, 17, also from Myrtle Beach, were arrested on the same day and charged with murder, according to the FCSO, ABC 15, WMBF, and News 13 reports.

Four other suspects were arrested, but their names were not released because they are minors, News 13 reports.

“They were complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper, to the scene and knew there would be a confrontation,” said Maj. Michael Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, according to News 13. “They knew Raper had shown a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants.”

Nunn told the Post and Courier that under state law, all five are charged as adults.

Raper and Kendall are being held without bond at the Florence County Detention Center, according to online jail records.

Kistenmacher was allowed bond and released to home confinement.

Belviso and Kearns each posted $20,000 surety bonds and were released while awaiting trial, according to Fox4 News.

It is unclear whether Raper, Kendall, and the other teens have hired attorneys who can speak for them.