News Summary
Brandon Thomas Cross has been charged with murder following a shooting incident at Qulture Bistro in Florence, SC, resulting in the death of security guard Melvin Anthony Gibson. The early morning shooting on Mother’s Day left seven people injured. Cross was transported into the courtroom on a stretcher for his hearing, where bail was denied due to the seriousness of the charges. The local sheriff has urged the community to address public safety concerns amid rising violence in the area.
Florence, South Carolina – Brandon Thomas Cross, 40, has been charged with murder following a shooting incident at Qulture Bistro that took place in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day, resulting in the death of 39-year-old Melvin Anthony Gibson, a security guard at the venue, who was attempting to protect patrons during the chaos.
The Florence County Coroner’s Office has confirmed Gibson’s death, which was a result of the violence that broke out during a disturbance in the nightclub’s parking lot. In total, seven individuals were shot in the incident, including Cross himself, who suffered injuries and was transported into the courtroom on a stretcher during his hearing.
Of the seven injured, six sustained gunshot wounds, and one of the wounded individuals, reported to be the shooter, is currently in critical condition at a local hospital. This shooting marks the second violent incident over the weekend in Florence County, with another occurring at the Red Circle Club, where one person was critically injured. A third shooting took place at a Cook Out restaurant on Irby Street, leading to arrests.
Cross’s legal representative asserts that Cross is innocent, emphasizing that he has had no legal issues in the last two decades. At the courtroom hearing, the judge did not grant bail to Cross due to the seriousness of the murder charge, leaving the possibility of a bail hearing request open for a later date through a circuit court judge.
Family members of the deceased, Melvin Gibson, were present in the courtroom and conveyed their desire for justice but chose not to make comments during the proceedings. Brandon Thomas Cross was booked into the Florence County Detention Center at 7:17 p.m. on Tuesday, where he remains as the investigation continues.
This shooting incident has raised concerns in the community regarding public safety, particularly with two shootings occurring within a short time frame. The local sheriff, TJ Joye, has highlighted the urgency of addressing the surge in violence and ensuring the safety of residents in the area.
As the investigation unfolds, officials are urging anyone with information related to the shootings to come forward to assist in bringing clarity to the situation and to help prevent such incidents in the future.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Shooting Incident at Red Circle Night Club in Florence County
Murder Charges Filed After Shooting at Qulture Bistro Lounge
Florence, SC Experiences Surge in Violence with Multiple Shootings
Florence County Man Charged After Hospital Threats
Shooting Incident at Florence County Fast Food Restaurant
Florence Nightclub Shooting Claims Life of Security Guard Melvin Gibson
Florence County Nightclub Shooting Claims Life of Security Guard
Shooting Incident at Cookout in Florence Raises Safety Concerns
Late-Night Shooting at Qulture Nightclub Leaves One Dead
Shooting at Florence Nightclub Leaves One in Critical Condition
Additional Resources
- WMBF News: Cook Out Customer Shot
- Google Search: Florence South Carolina shooting
- WPDE: Man Charged in Nightclub Shooting
- Wikipedia: Florence, South Carolina
- WBTW: 7 Injured in Nightclub Shooting
- Google Scholar: Florence shooting reports
- WPDE: Argument Leads to Shooting
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Florence South Carolina
Author: STAFF HERE FLORENCE WRITER
FLORENCE STAFF WRITER The FLORENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREFlorence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florence, Florence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Florence Festival of Lights, Pee Dee Pride, and agricultural expos at the Florence Center. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Florence Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pee Dee Area Council of Governments, plus leading businesses in healthcare and retail that power the local economy such as McLeod Health and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharleston.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGreenville.com, and HEREHiltonHead.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.