Anderson, S.C. — In the early hours of Sunday, tragedy struck on West Franklin Street when gunfire erupted inside Truth Bar & Grill, leaving two men dead and several others wounded. The Anderson County Coroner’s Office has since confirmed the deceased as 54-year-old Calvin Chester Jr., who was on duty as a security guard, and 30-year-old Roymad Shaquil McDaniel. Their deaths have been ruled homicides.
Emergency officials say the shooting unfolded just after 3:15 a.m., when 911 received calls about multiple shots fired at the popular late-night venue. First responders arriving at the scene found several people with gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, Chester and McDaniel were declared dead at the site — Chester shot in the head, McDaniel in the chest.
Three additional individuals were rushed to AnMed Health Medical Center for treatment. While their identities and exact medical conditions have not been released, they are still hospitalized and undergoing care.
According to authorities, the carnage began with a physical confrontation inside the bar which escalated rapidly into gunfire. Detectives from the Anderson Police Department and the Coroner’s Office combed through the scene well into the morning, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses in hopes of reconstructing how the evening spiraled so violently.
The community is grappling with shock as friends and relatives remember Chester and McDaniel not just for how they died, but for the lives they led. Chester, in particular, has been described as a dedicated security professional — someone who took pride in keeping people safe. The loss of these two has left deep emotional scars in a community already straining under the weight of everyday violence.
Authorities continue to push for public assistance in the investigation. Tips can be made anonymously through Anderson County Crime Stoppers as investigators work to identify suspects and piece together the full chain of events.
In the meantime, Anderson remains in mourning — wrestling with grief, anger, and the urgent need for accountability. The memory of Calvin Chester Jr. and Roymad McDaniel now carries a heavier weight: they were more than victims in a headline. They were people missed, stories interrupted before their time.