BEAUFORT, SC (Oct. 2, 2023) – A second Jasper County resident has been convicted for the 2021 shooting death of a popular Bluffton High School football player, in an apparent case of mistaken identity.
Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone secured convictions for murder and six other charges Monday against Ty’leic Dae Jhon Chaneyfield, 21, of Ridgeland. A Beaufort County General Sessions Court jury found him guilty in the March 2021 shooting death of D’won “D.J.” Fields Jr., an 18-year-old football player at Bluffton High School. Two of Fields’ Bobcat teammates were passengers in his vehicle and survived the attack, though both were injured and one was shot twice in the face.
Chaneyfield also was convicted of two charges of attempted murder, three charges of assault and battery by mob, and possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime. He was sentenced to life in prison and received maximum penalties on five of the six other charges.
“Nothing is going to give the Fields family their son back, but this is another measure of justice for those who stole his life,” Stone said. “Ty’leic Chaneyfield deserves this verdict and this sentence.”
Ty’leic Chaneyfield
Stone called 27 witnesses during three days of testimony at the Beaufort County Courthouse. He was assisted by Deputy Solicitor Sean Thornton.
Circuit Court Judge R. Ferrell Cothran Jr. handed down Chaneyfield’s sentence.
In May, Jimmie Lewis Green, 21, of Hardeeville pleaded guilty to an identical set of charges. He received a 40-year prison sentence.
Three other defendants also face charges in connection with Fields’ death.
An 18-year-old male, who was a juvenile at the time of the attack, also faces the same charges as Chaneyfield and Green. The Solicitor’s Office awaits a Family Court ruling on its request to try him as an adult. Also, Shayniah Void, 21, of Orangeburg is charged with second- and third-degree assault and battery by mob. Her brother, Jayden Lamont Void, 21, of Bluffton, is charged with first-, second- and third-degree assault and battery by mob.
All three defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
