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Nine teens have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of 16-year-old Trey Dean Wright of Johnsonville, South Carolina, on June 24, according to authorities. The June 24 fatal shooting, which was allegedly video-recorded in part by one of the other suspects, has left the victim’s family and a small community reeling.

Deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office located the body of Wright along First Neck Road on June 24. He had been shot multiple times. The road is a rural area located about 45 miles west of Myrtle Beach. On June 25, authorities arrested 19-year-old Devan Scott Raper of Conway, who they say shot and killed Wright after the pair’s argument over a girl escalated.

Prosecutors have since added eight more suspects to the case, all of whom are currently minors. The new arrests came in the weeks following Wright’s death, as authorities allege they helped Raper orchestrate the shooting. Prosecutors say several teens lured Wright to where Raper was hiding, fully knowing that he was armed with a gun and had already threatened to shoot the victim.

According to Wright’s mother, Ashley Lindsey, the court proceedings following the teen’s death have only added to her heartbreak. “All this court hearing and bond court and stuff is driving me crazy,” Lindsey told Fox News Digital. “I don’t even have time to sit down and think half the time, on top of losing my precious baby.”

Girlfriend Arrested in Shooting Death of 16-Year-Old Trey Dean Wright.

In an interview with the local news station WBTW-TV, Wright’s girlfriend, 17-year-old Gianna Kistenmacher of Myrtle Beach, was among the eight arrested. Authorities have charged the teen with accessory before the fact to murder, alleging she played a major role in setting up the fatal shooting.

Prosecutors say Kistenmacher was aware Raper was armed and knew a violent confrontation was likely to take place before she went to the crime scene. The victim’s mother said it was an especially crushing betrayal that her son’s girlfriend, whom he was planning to marry, would turn out to be one of those accused in his murder.

“The other thing that kills me about this whole situation is, she was with me the day he passed,” Lindsey said. “So, it’s just a lot.”

Nine Teenagers Charged as Adults in Connection with Killing

Florence County Sheriff’s Office Major Michael Nunn told WBTW-TV that several of the accused in Wright’s death helped orchestrate the encounter. “They were complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation,” Nunn said. “They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants.”

Under South Carolina law, prosecutors can charge minors as adults in cases involving serious charges like murder. Authorities have confirmed that five of the suspects in Wright’s death are facing charges as adults. “The hand of one being the hand of all is part of South Carolina law as well, so that’s the basis of the charge for each of those individuals,” Nunn said.

Two more Myrtle Beach-area teenagers were added to the list of suspects after authorities charged them with murder as well as Raper. The three accused in the case were 18-year-olds Hunter Kendall and Corrine Belviso, along with a 17-year-old, Sydney Kearns. Prosecutors allege their involvement in the fatal shooting was of a serious enough nature that it warranted direct murder charges.

Sheriff T.J. Joye told reporters that the shooting resulted from a personal dispute between two parties over a romantic interest. “They had issues with each other, and it was over a female,” he said. “The sad thing is, you’ve got a 16-year-old who lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?”

At this time, Raper is facing charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He is being held without bond. Kendall, who was also charged with murder, was denied bond and has been held in custody since his arrest. Belviso and Kearns each posted a $20,000 surety bond last week and were released from custody.

Officials with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office have not provided an update on the case, citing the ongoing investigation, and prosecutors declined to comment on the pending matter. For Wright’s family, however, his death remains raw.

His mother has been vocal about her grief while lamenting the drawn-out court process. Beyond that, however, the family is still reeling from what they see as the deliberate targeting of the victim by his girlfriend and some of his friends. Many in the community are also reflecting on the role of young feuds, peer pressure, and easy access to firearms among teens in such deadly outcomes.

A single disagreement between two parties has since mushroomed into nine teenagers facing serious criminal charges and two families that have been torn apart, while another small community in South Carolina tries to come to grips with the need to send 16- and 19-year-olds to jail or prison for the rest of their lives.