Felon out of prison was ‘hunting for a victim’ in Rock Hill killing, police say
A Rock Hill felon recently released from prison on supervised release was “hunting for a victim” April 17 when he shot and killed a stranger loading his car for a birthday trip, police said in court Thursday.
D’Aaron Boyd Colston, 30, made his first appearance at Rock Hill Municipal Court a day after police charged him with the murder of Brandon Swilling, 33. Video shows Swilling was ambushed and shot by Colston, who hid behind a tree, jumped out, and shot Swilling, police said.
“It appeared Colston was hunting for someone to victimize, and sadly, Brandon was the person he selected,” Rock Hill police Detective Tayler Englert told Judge Sara Russell.
Dozens of Swilling’s family and friends packed one side of the courtroom filled with around 20 police officers before tempers flared in the gallery as Englert said Colston shot Swilling in the abdomen and then in the head. Police escorted two people out of the courtroom who shouted after hearing about the brutality of the crime.
Colston yelled out “I didn’t do it,” in court when a spectator was shouting, and then again at the end of the hearing said loudly as he was led out of court, “I ain’t do it.”
Police say Swilling and Colston had no connection and did not know each other. Swilling was packing his car for a trip to Asheville, N.C., with his girlfriend around 11 a.m. when Colston killed him, according to Englert. Swilling would have turned 34 on April 25 and the trip was to celebrate a few days early.
Swilling’s girlfriend heard the gunshots and called 911 after finding Swilling shot in the driveway of the house on Flint Hill Street on Rock Hill’s southern edge, according to Englert.
None of the people who were in court to support Swilling spoke to the judge when she asked if the victim’s family wanted to say anything on the record about the crime.
Crime shocks community
The crime went unsolved for several days and shocked neighbors. The president of the neighborhood association told The Herald previously many were appalled by the daytime killing of someone known to many as a good person. Englert said in court that neighbors police talked to described Swilling, who had lived there for five years, as a generous and good man who was helpful to others who lived nearby.
Colston was arrested Wednesday after police said in court investigators found video and other evidence that link him to the killing. He faces charges of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a weapon by someone convicted of certain crimes.
Colston was sentenced to 12 years prison for burglary in 2019 but was released Jan. 30, according to court statements and S.C. Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services records. He is banned by law from having a gun because of his criminal record. It remains unclear if the murder weapon has been recovered.
Englert told the judge that Colston was an “absolute danger to the community,” and should be denied bail. Russell denied bail and told Colston he could face life in prison if convicted.
What happens now?
Colston applied for a public defender and told Russell he wants a preliminary hearing. That is a court hearing where an accused person can challenge police having probable cause to make an arrest before a trial. It is unclear when that hearing will take place.
Colston was transferred to the York County jail, where he will be held pending trial. No trial date has been set.
