A 20-year-old Orangeburg County man is now accused of murdering three people. Dwayne Deeandre Smalls, with addresses in both Orangeburg and Holly Hill, is now charged in the Oct. 22, 2022 shooting death of Mikell Taveron Simpson, a 33-year-old man from Spartanburg.
Smalls appeared before Orangeburg Municipal Judge Chasity Avinger for his arraignment on Thursday afternoon. Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Det. Bryan Haynes explained in court that Simpson had been dead nearly 24 hours before officers located him in a vehicle in the parking lot of Orangeburg's spray park, located at 706 Riverside Drive.
"Mr. Simpson's death was violent. He was shot multiple times," Haynes said.
" We've worked hard over the last couple of years to try to bring this case to the point where it is now," he added. According to his warrant, Smalls allegedly "admitted his actions" to a confidant. That confidant then told law enforcement.
The warrant also claims evidence collected at the scene and video surveillance led investigators to Smalls as their suspect. Devon Simpson, father of Mikell Simpson, addressed Smalls in court, saying "Pray to God because I'm a changed man right now. There's not enough officers to stop me from doing what I really feel like doing to you and I'm being real with you.
" He paused, then added, "I don't mean to threaten him, but that's a promise," he told the court. "He took my son's life. He took my life away from me," he added.
Loud sobs were heard from Simpson's family.