Rock Hill teen gets 20 years in prison for killing man near gazebo on Lake Wylie shore
The case of an unarmed man killed along the shore of Lake Wylie in summer 2022 ended Friday in an emotional courtroom with a Rock Hill teen sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Zi’Quavious Jkwon La’Travis Caldwell, 19, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in York County criminal court for the June 2022 shooting death of Terron “T.J.” Hubert of Clover. Initially charged with murder, Caldwell’s plea reflects a negotiated sentence that Judge Dan Hall accepted.
Hubert, 20, was found shot five times along the Lake Wylie shoreline near a gazebo on June 5, 2022. Initially police had few leads and no suspects.
The case went without arrest for two months after Hubert’s body was found. Sheriff’s office deputies sought information from the public to crack the case.
Detectives charged Caldwell with murder on Aug. 6, 2022 after receiving information about Caldwell’s involvement, prosecutor John Anthony said in court.
Caldwell was 17 at the time of the killing. His lawyer, Phil Smith of the York County Public Defender’s office, said Caldwell did not know Hubert.
Hubert was unarmed when Caldwell shot him five times over a girl, Anthony said.
Caldwell initially lied to police when questioned, and claimed he was a witness to the shooting, before later confessing, Anthony said.
Victim’s family: A young life cut short
Hubert’s family and others who loved him packed the Moss Justice Center courtroom Friday for the hearing. More than a dozen sheriff deputies who worked the weekslong investigation to find Hubert’s killer also were in court.
The victim’s mother, grandmother and a close family friend told Judge Hall that Hubert did not deserve to die. They spoke of his gentle and respectful nature.
Hubert’s mother, Quadrena Adams, said in court she wanted Caldwell to receive a harsher sentence. Murder carries a minimum of 30 years for a conviction in South Carolina.
“You made a reckless, life-altering choice,” Adams told Caldwell.
Caldwell apologized in court.
“I’m just sorry for everything,” he said.
Smith, Caldwell’s lawyer, said Caldwell accepted responsibility for the killing by pleading guilty.
“If Zi (Zi’Quavious) could take back everything he would,” Smith said.
Caldwell receives credit for 839 days he has been in jail without bail since his arrest in August 2022.
