A South Carolina family is living through the worst nightmare of their lives after 19-year-old Camariya Tidwell was shot and killed outside her family’s home in Rock Hill over the weekend in what police say was a targeted attack tied to an ongoing dispute.
Now, 34-year-old Sean Xavier Hubbard of Clover is behind bars facing murder charges after investigators say he allegedly returned to the family’s Mount Gallant Road home Saturday night and opened fire — just hours after police say he had already blasted a shotgun through the front door earlier in the day.
According to investigators, Camariya Tidwell was never the intended target.
Instead, her grieving family says the teenager became an innocent victim caught in a terrifying situation that had allegedly been escalating for days while they repeatedly begged for help.
The deadly shooting happened Saturday night, May 16, at a home located in the 700 block of Mount Gallant Road near the U.S. 21 Bypass and Anderson Road in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Authorities say officers responded to reports of gunfire around 11 p.m. When police arrived, they discovered Tidwell suffering from a gunshot wound in the front yard of the residence. She was rushed for emergency medical treatment but later died from her injuries, according to the York County Coroner’s Office.
Family members say the violence didn’t start Saturday night.
Earlier that same day, doorbell camera footage reportedly captured Hubbard walking up to the home armed with a shotgun before allegedly firing directly through the family’s front door. Thankfully, nobody was struck during that daytime attack, but relatives say the horrifying incident left everybody inside terrified.
The family says they had already installed surveillance cameras after multiple threats and previous gunfire incidents allegedly connected to Hubbard in the days leading up to Camariya’s death.
Loved ones told WCNC, the suspect had been harassing and terrorizing the household following a dispute involving car repair work that allegedly began through social media.
According to relatives, one family member had hired Hubbard to perform automotive work. However, after things escalated and threats were allegedly made, the family member reportedly blocked him.
Hours after the daytime shotgun blast, police say Hubbard allegedly returned again Saturday night — this time on foot — before gunfire erupted outside the residence, ultimately taking Camariya’s life.
Camariya’s mother, Shifarnia McCullough, broke down emotionally while speaking about the loss of her daughter, describing the teen as a loving, humble young woman who stayed away from trouble.
“My baby was an angel,” McCullough said through tears during interviews with local media. “My child will never come back.”
Relatives described Camariya Tidwell as compassionate, family-oriented, and full of life. They say she had a bright future ahead of her and did not deserve the violence that took her life.
Family members are now demanding accountability while also asking questions about the police response leading up to the fatal shooting.
According to relatives, they repeatedly contacted authorities about the threats and escalating danger before Saturday night’s deadly attack occurred.
“He terrorized my family,” one relative reportedly said.
Meanwhile, police launched a massive manhunt for Hubbard following the shooting. Authorities say the suspect was eventually taken into custody early Sunday morning after a SWAT operation at another location on Fig Branch Road.
Sean Xavier Hubbard has since been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Officials say additional charges could still be filed as investigators continue building the case.
