The sister of a North Carolina man killed in a hail of gunfire on a Horry County road two years ago confronted one of the shooters for the first time Monday during the family’s wrongful-death trial.
Monday’s hearings were a preview of the larger Stand Your Ground hearing, which is expected to be heard in December. Law is at the center of the shooting, which police called a road rage incident that drew national attention and allegations of police misconduct that were initially investigated by Horry County police.
Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. heard a series of motions from North Myrtle Beach businessman Weldon Boyd and his friend Kenneth “Bradley” Williams in a lawsuit in which they are defendants Monday in a Conway, SC courtroom. in 2025 November 17
Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. heard a series of motions filed by North Myrtle Beach businessman Weldon Boyd and his friend Kenneth “Bradley” Williams in the lawsuit in which they are defendants. The lawsuit was filed by Scott Spivey, a 33-year-old North Carolina man who died in a hail of gunfire in 2023. September 9 Family on Camp Swamp Road, just off Highway 9 in the Longs area.
Boyd did not attend Monday’s hearing. Williams sat behind his attorney, next to Boyd’s mother and father, as evidence, including the 911 calls, was presented during the hearing. Williams lowered his head or looked up at the ceiling as witness calls played.
It was the first time Spivey’s sister, Jennifer Foley, had seen one of the men who killed her brother in person, even though they sat on opposite sides of the Horry County courtroom.
Scott Spivey’s mother, left, Deborah Spivey, and sister, Jennifer Foley, listen to the 9-11 eyewitness tapes of Spivey’s death being played. A judge heard pleas in the civil case Monday in the death of Scott Spivey, who was shot by Weldon Boyd and Kenneth “Bradley” Williams, in a state courtroom in Conway. in 2025 November 17
Foley, who led the charge in seeking justice for her brother and pointed to law enforcement’s interpretation of the state’s Stand Your Ground law, sat with her mother. She also bowed her head and became agitated during the hearing. The mother hugged her daughter to comfort her.
Williams declined to comment after the hearing, referring questions to his attorney.
The hearing focused on the defense’s motion for the judge to allow the 911 tapes and witness statements from the night of the shooting as admissible evidence. If granted, it would mean witnesses to the shooting would not have to testify or be questioned in court.
Griffith said he would consider the offer.
Morgan Martin, an attorney for Kenneth “Bradley” Williams, appeared in a Conway courtroom Monday to argue the case at a procedural hearing. A judge heard pleas in the civil case Monday in the death of Scott Spivey, who was shot by Weldon Boyd and Kenneth “Bradley” Williams, in a state courtroom in Conway. in 2025 November 17
Can witness testimony be enough at a hearing?
It seems that some of the 2023 witnesses to the shooting have been uncooperative when it comes to testifying with lawyers.
Attorneys for both sides told Griffith they had been unable to speak to two key witnesses.
Ken Moss, Boyd’s attorney, suggested that podcasters on social media may have made witnesses reluctant to speak. Moss said witnesses have been attacked on social media and called liars for what they say they saw on the night of the shooting.
Attorneys for both Boyd and Williams asked the judge to allow into evidence 911 recordings and witness statements, which they say are public Horry County records and include the identity of each caller.
This would allow testimony to be relied upon rather than witnesses coming to court and being personally questioned about what they saw.
Providing such information can be considered hearsay, which prevents a witness from reporting what someone said.
Spivey’s family attorney, Mark Tinsley, argued against the 911 calls and witness statements, adding that at least one of the witnesses repeatedly said he did not see the shooting.
Mark Tinsley, the attorney for Scott Spivey’s family, will appear in court in Conway on Monday. A judge heard pleas in the civil case Monday in the death of Scott Spivey, who was shot by Weldon Boyd and Kenneth “Bradley” Williams, in a state courtroom in Conway. in 2025 November 17
Judge Griffith was reluctant to issue subpoenas to the witnesses, saying he hoped lawyers would be able to contact them again and compel them to testify.
“Is there still hope?” the judge asked the lawyers.
“I don’t have that much hope,” Williams’ attorney, Morgan Martin, said of getting witnesses to testify.
Griffith said he wants to help families on both sides find closure.
“I want closure for families,” Griffith said.
The shooter asks for a postponement of the trial
Williams asked for a delay in the lawsuit, which was filed in 2024. in June, fearing he might be a “target” of a law enforcement investigation by HCPD SLED, according to a later withdrawn request.
The motion says the SLED investigation of one or more HCPD officers is based on “insistence” by Foley and her attorneys, as well as Horry County Council and state lawmakers.
It was not clear whether the SLED investigation into alleged misconduct by HCPD in connection with the shooting has been completed or what, if any, findings were made.
SLED spokeswoman Renee Wunderlich previously said the investigation is still ongoing.
What will happen at the Stand Your Ground meeting?
Boyd and Williams were never charged in the fatal shooting of a Tabor City man after the South Carolina attorney general’s office ruled it self-defense under the state’s Personal Protection and Property Act, commonly known as the Stand Your Ground law.
The law allows people to use force without trying to retreat when facing an attack in their home or anywhere a person is legally allowed to be.
Kenneth “Bradley” Williams listens as attorneys argue procedural issues in court Monday. A judge heard pleas in the civil case Monday in the death of Scott Spivey, who was shot by Weldon Boyd and Kenneth “Bradley” Williams, in a state courtroom in Conway. in 2025 November 17
A Stand Your Ground hearing in the civil case would determine whether Boyd and Williams are entitled to civil and criminal immunity related to their actions during the shooting.
One thing a judge might consider is that Boyd followed Spivey for nine miles on Highway 9 before the fatal shooting. Police reports indicate that the confrontation first began when Spivey was driving erratically, waving a gun outside the truck’s window and pointing the gun at Boyd and Williams.
Boyd called 911 and told the dispatcher that “if he keeps it up, I’m going to shoot him.” The two men followed Spivey until he drove onto Camp Swamp Road, where Boyd and Williams claim he got out of the truck and fired at them before they returned fire.
Spivey was found dead from a gunshot wound in his car.
Spivey’s family believes Boyd’s relationship with Horry County police officers, whom he befriended, influenced the investigation into the shooting. Evidence released in the case, including Boyd’s phone records after the shooting, has already resulted in two high-ranking Horry County police officers losing their jobs and letters to the county council and local state lawmakers asking Gov. Henry McMaster to consider reopening the case. Three other unnamed HCPD officers were also disciplined for mishandling evidence, Chief Kris Leonhardt said at a news conference.
The attorney general’s office was asked to review the case after the Horry County attorney declined. The AG’s office declined to charge Boyd and Williams or reopen the case. But two months ago, Attorney General Alan Wilson asked 8th District Court Solicitor Barry Barnette to review SLED’s case against HCPD.
Wilson, who is running for governor of South Carolina, has been criticized by at least one opponent for his handling of the Spivey case.