A quiet Tuesday morning along U.S. Highway 90 in the Wampee area of eastern Horry County turned into tragedy when 33‑year‑old Paul Jones Greenwood of Nichols was shot and killed after a traffic crash escalated into a deadly road‑rage confrontation, authorities confirmed. The stretch of Highway 90 near Star Bluff Road, a busy corridor linking inland and coastal communities, became the scene of a homicide that has shaken local residents.
Just before 8 a.m., Greenwood was driving a white pickup truck westbound on Highway 90 when his truck collided with a woman’s vehicle and, according to witnesses, also struck a third car belonging to 23‑year‑old Elijaih Thurman Taylor of Nakina, North Carolina. The initial crash left all three vehicles damaged.
Within moments of the collision, video captured by witnesses shows Greenwood and Taylor stepping out of their vehicles and beginning a heated argument. Taylor was seen blaming Greenwood for the crash, hurling angry words as the tension grew.
The situation quickly spiraled. As Greenwood backed away from Taylor, video evidence shows Taylor reaching into his pocket. Greenwood appeared to turn and flee along the roadside, but Taylor then fired four shots, striking Greenwood in the back. Emergency responders arrived shortly after, and Greenwood was pronounced dead at the scene.
The woman involved in the crash was not seriously injured, according to law enforcement. Taylor was taken into custody by the Horry County Police Department and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He is currently being held without bond as the investigation continues.
Local police closed a portion of Highway 90 for several hours while investigating the shooting, and detectives are still working to piece together all details, including whether Greenwood and Taylor knew each other prior to the incident and what kind of firearm was used.
Friends, family, and neighbors described Greenwood as a devoted father of three, whose life was cut short in a moment of violence that began with an everyday drive. In the aftermath, the community has been left grieving and reflecting on how quickly routine moments can turn tragic.
