The suspect in a shooting incident over the weekend that claimed the life of a 3-year-old child is in custody. FCSO Investigators have charged Joseph Waterman of Conway, SC, with one count of Murder, seven counts of Attempted Murder, and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime. According to Investigators, at approximately 9:30 pm on Midway Highway near Johnsonville, SC, Waterman is alleged to have shot multiple times into a vehicle occupied by three adults and five children. At some point near 904 Midway Highway, Investigators allege that Waterman alighted from his vehicle, approached the victim’s vehicle with a firearm, and, after striking the driver of the victim’s vehicle in the head with the firearm, shot the firearm into the vehicle, striking the 3-year-old child who was sitting in the back seat along with four other children. The child was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Florence County Coroner Keith Von Lutcken has identified the deceased child, Antonio Burgess of Hemingway, SC.
Waterman is being held at the Florence County Detention Center while awaiting a bond hearing.
SUBJECT: Joseph Waterman, Jr. age 34, of 5496 Hendricks Short Cut Road, Conway, SC was arrested on September 19, 2025 by Deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and charged with one count of Murder (S.C. Code Ann. 16-3-010), seven counts of Attempted Murder (S.C. Code Ann. 16-3-029) and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime (S.C. Code Ann. 16-23-490). See FCSO Booking Website for additional information.