Goose Creek man sentenced for woman’s murder after Christmas party

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office confirmed a Goose Creek man has been sentenced after a jury convicted him of killing a woman at a 2019 Christmas Party in North Charleston.

A Charleston County jury convicted Michael Christopher Whitlock Jr. on charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, Solicitor Scarlett Wilson said.

Judge Bentley Price sentenced Whitlock to 35 years in prison.

Whitlock had previously been convicted of unlawful carrying of a pistol. The jury returned the verdict Friday afternoon after a week of trial.

Evidence presented at court indicated Whitlock and co-defendant Michael Bonton opened fire into a crowd of people after a Christmas party at the Suburban Masonic Lodge in North Charleston at approximately 1:38 a.m. on Dec. 22, 2019.

Prosecutors said Whitlock’s mother hosted the party.

Whitlock testified during the trial that he felt disrespected by his girlfriend. He mistakenly believed his girlfriend and one of the surviving victims had been “making eyes” at each other during the party, became jealous, and, along with Bolton, confronted the surviving victim, prosecutors said.

Whitlock and Bolton armed themselves before the confrontation, and once outside, Bolton chased the surviving victim’s relatives with a gun before opening fire on them, the solicitor’s office said.

Prosecutors say the surviving victim was shot and frantically dragged himself to shelter between two cars and after Bolton emptied his gun, other partygoers ran to his aid. At that point, they said, Whitlock opened fire and shot 14 times, emptying his gun and killing Shaquanna Matthews-Myers.

The solicitor’s office said that after the shooting, Whitlock and Bolton fled the scene but spoke several times and that Bolton got rid of his gun, and Whitlock got rid of his empty magazine.

North Charleston Police interviewed him hours later at 4 a.m., but prosecutors said Whitlock lied about his involvement in the killing.

“Whitlock was the catalyst of this ridiculous shootout: Whitlock felt disrespected by his girlfriend, initiated the confrontation with one of the victims, and fired 14 gunshots into a crowd of people,” Assistant Solicitor Kelly Barber, who prosecuted the case, said. “Even though co-defendant Bolton also fired several gunshots, this would never have happened if not for Michael Whitlock. The jury recognized that and gave the victims justice.”

“This was a complete team effort to deliver justice for the victims,” Wilson said. “We could not have secured these convictions without the help of everyone involved in this case — from the victims and their families to the witnesses who testified, to Detective Denis Woods and the team at North Charleston Police Department.”

Bolton pleaded guilty in August 2023 to murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and was sentenced to 30 years.

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