South Carolina Couple Sentenced After Bringing Children While Hunting Down Workers and Opening Fire Into Their Car, Killing One Man

NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — A South Carolina couple has been sentenced after prosecutors say they brought their two infants along while hunting down three men who had just cashed their paychecks, ultimately opening fire into their car and killing a 25-year-old worker in what officials called a “targeted act of depravity.”

Workers Cashed Their Checks Before Being Followed for 10 Minutes

According to investigators, 23-year-old Jaimen Tisdale and his girlfriend, 24-year-old Mariah McAteer, sat waiting outside a convenience store on July 13, 2023, with their infants in the backseat.
Inside the store, Miqueas Lopez, his brother, cousin, and a coworker were cashing their checks after finishing a day of installing electrical systems at a local school.

When the men left, the couple followed them for more than 10 minutes as the victims dropped someone off. As Lopez later pulled over near home, prosecutors say the couple seized the moment to attempt a robbery.

Gunman Approached With AR-15 and Fired Into Driver’s Window

Officials say Tisdale jumped out of the couple’s vehicle carrying an AR-15 rifle, ran to the driver’s side of the victims’ car, and pointed the weapon directly inside where Lopez sat.
Surveillance footage captured the moment Tisdale aimed and fired.

Lopez attempted to accelerate away but had already been struck by a close-range gunshot wound to the head.
He died shortly afterward.
His brother and cousin were not injured.

Prosecutors said the victims were targeted because the suspects believed they had cash and would not report the crime.

Police Tracked Suspects Through Street Cameras

Authorities were able to locate Tisdale and McAteer quickly thanks to street cameras, which captured their vehicle following the victims and fleeing the scene after the shooting.

Investigators say the couple’s decision to bring their children along added to the danger and resulted in unlawful conduct toward a child charges for both.

Tisdale later claimed he believed the victims’ car looked “suspicious” and that the rifle discharged accidentally — a story jurors rejected.

Tisdale Sentenced to 55 Years; Girlfriend Pleads Guilty as Accessory

A jury convicted Tisdale of:

• Murder
• Three counts of attempted armed robbery
• Possession of a weapon during a violent crime
• Two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child

He was sentenced to 55 years in prison.

McAteer pleaded guilty to:

• Accessory after the fact to murder
• Three counts of attempted armed robbery
• Two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child

Prosecutors condemned the calculated nature of the crime.

“This was a targeted act of depravity that resulted in the loss of an innocent life,” Assistant Solicitor Cassity Brewer said.

As the community continues to mourn the death of Miqueas Lopez, officials say the case underscores the role of surveillance technology in solving violent crimes. For continued updates on criminal justice developments across the U.S., visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.