Teen had shooting case dismissed just months before 'he shot dead love triangle rival, 16'

Daily Mail​

a day ago

A teenager accused of gunning down his 16-year-old love rival in a planned ambush was involved in an eerily similar case just months prior - but the charges against him were later dismissed.
Devan Raper, 19, has been arrested and charged with the murder of Trey Dean Wright, who was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds near Johnsonville, South Carolina - a small city about 45 miles west of Myrtle Beach - on June 24.
Wright was allegedly lured to a remote rural location on First Neck Road by his girlfriend, Gianna Kistenmacher, 17, where Raper was waiting to confront him violently over a mutual love interest, police say.
Raper, Kistenmacher, and seven other teenagers have so far been charged in connection with Wright's murder. Another teen is expected to surrender themselves to investigators imminently.
Court documents unearthed by the Daily Mail reveal that Raper was involved in another shooting investigation just months before Wright was gunned down.
In August 2024, Raper was charged as an accessory in an attempted murder case in his hometown of Conway. Like the Wright shooting months later, it involved driving a gunman to a gathering of local rivals where a simmering dispute turned violent.
Raper, then 18, was accused of driving gunman Jayden Henry Brown, 20, to Austin Avenue on August 15, 2024, where Brown opened fire on a group of teenagers, striking one in the thigh.
The pair then fled the scene in Raper's car, but they were arrested within two weeks.
Authorities alleged that Raper knew Brown intended to open fire on the group and willingly drove him to and from the scene of the shooting.
He was charged as an accessory both before and after the fact to a felony, while Brown was initially arrested and charged with five counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
However, in January 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault and battery in the first-degree.
He was sentenced to five years in a young offenders' prison and two years probation.
The charges against Raper were dismissed the following month, court records show.
The attorney who represented Raper in that case has not yet returned a request for comment.
Additional court documents show that Raper's father, Jason Raper, has an extensive criminal record, featuring numerous traffic infractions - including driving with a suspended license - a no contest plea for criminal mischief and drug possession.
Court documents unearthed by the Daily Mail reveal that Raper (left) was involved in another shooting investigation just months before Wright was gunned down. He was accused of willingly driving Jayden Henry Brown (right) to and from the scene of a shooting
Posts to Devan Raper's personal Facebook page show he is a father to a baby girl.
One selfie posted to social media shows the teen holding a handgun up to the camera.
Raper is currently being held at the Florence County Detention Center without bond, following his arrest for Wright's murder.
Police claim Raper had previously flashed a firearm at Wright and threatened to shoot him.
A source familiar with the matter told the Daily Mail that Wright had spent what would prove to be his final hours of life with friends, spending time swimming at a local river and going out for food.
He was staying at a friend's home on First Neck Road on the night of June 24, when he was allegedly lured to a nearby remote location by his girlfriend, Kistenmacher, and shot by Raper.
A large group of teenagers watched the deadly confrontation unfold.
At least one person caught the shooting on their cellphone.
Police allege the footage shows Raper pulling the trigger several times, striking and killing Wright.
Raper was arrested and charged with murder the following day, along with Kistenmacher, who was charged as an accessory before the fact.
Raper was arrested and charged with murder the following day, along with Wright's girlfriend, Gianna Kistenmacher, who was charged as an accessory before the fact
Kistenmacher has been accused of playing a significant role in the killing. According to the sheriff's office, she brought her boyfriend to meet with Raper - knowing he was armed and likely to kill Wright.
She is currently on bond and released to home confinement.
Three more teenagers were arrested and charged with murder in the days that followed: Corinne Belviso, 18, Matthew Kendall, 18, and Sydney Marissa Kearns, 17. Police have not revealed the roles they allegedly played in Wright's death.
Neighbors of Belviso said they were unsurprised by her affiliations with the horrifying crime, describing her as a wayward teen who comes from a difficult family.
'They're always throwing wild parties and they have trucks going up and down the street at two or three in the morning,' Michael Vanglahn told WBTW.
'[It's not a surprise] based on the people that she hangs out with, you know, and the people that her mom allows her to hang out with and the people she invited in.'
Four other teenagers have since been arrested in connection with Wright's death, but have not yet been named, bringing the total number charged to nine.
A tenth teen is expected to surrender to police soon, WBTW reported.
Maj. Michael Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff's Office said those arrests involved individuals who were 'complicit' in bringing Raper to the scene of the shooting, 'knowing there would be a confrontation.'
'They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants,' Nunn said.
'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.'
Police claim Raper had previously flashed a firearm at Wright and threatened to shoot him
Five of the nine teens have been charged as adults.
Posts to Wright's TikTok page hinted at an ongoing conflict and relationship issues before his death.
'I fear no female,' a caption in one video read. 'What's she gonna do? Talk about me on her private story?'
A second read: 'Yall can have the ho, I give up.'
Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye earlier said the shooting was believed to have been caused by a romantic rivalry.
'They had issues with each other, and it was over a female,' Joye told local media
'The sad thing is, you 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?'
It is unclear whether Raper and the other teens charged have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf.