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by ERIN PARROTT
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Attorneys representing the family of a North Charleston man who was fatally hacked to death by a machete-wielding co-worker have filed a lawsuit against multiple companies this week, saying they failed to keep the job site safe and allowed a known violent offender onto the property.
According to a complaint filed by Justin Bamberg of Bamberg Legal and Chris Hart of Hart Law, 33-year-old David Keith Carter was working at a job site located at 3471 Trade Center Court in North Charleston when his co-worker approached him, pulled out a machete and began slashing him all over his body.
Shortly before 3:00 p.m. EDT on June 19, 2024, Tyrone Campbell – a known repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history – allegedly slashed Carter numerous times on the face, head and body as Carter pleaded for his life. When police arrived at the scene, Campbell refused to drop the machete – forcing officers to tase him before taking him into custody.
“Carter consciously begged and pleaded for his life while he was being violently slashed repeatedly with the machete,” Bamberg and Hart wrote in their complaint.
Carter survived his incredibly painful injuries for several hours before eventually succumbing to them, according to the complaint.
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Bamberg and Hart named SHL Medical, LLC – as well as Evans General Contracting, LLC and Flooring Services, LLC – as defendants in the complaint, alleging that if they had conducted “even the most basic of background checks,” Campbell would never have been hired or allowed on the worksite property.
“Although the family of David Keith Carter will never get to see him again, it is their hope through this lawsuit that no other family will have to suffer losing a loved one in such a horrific way,” Bamberg and Hart said in a statement to Carter’s family. “We intend to hold all defendants responsible for failing to keep the workplace safe from machetes and deadly assaults.”
Prior to being charged with Carter’s murder, Campbell had an attempted murder charge from 2021 and a 2023 arson conviction on his record – both of which should have been discovered prior to his employment at the job site, according to the pleading.
The origin of the attempted murder rap? While incarcerated at the Orangeburg County detention center in 2021, Campbell allegedly attempted to strangle his cellmate for “fake sleeping” and “snoring.”
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The complaint filed against the companies alleged wrongful death, negligence, negligent selection of independent contractors, negligent supervision of independent contractors and premises liability, among other claims.
“Mr. Carter was only doing his job to provide for his family,” the attorneys stated. “We will work tirelessly to protect Mr. Carter’s legacy and ensure that we get justice for his loved ones.”
Campbell is currently being held inside the Al Cannon detention center in North Charleston.
Count on FITSNews to provide any pertinent updates about this case as they become available…
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THE COMPLAINT…
(S.C. Ninth Judicial Circuit)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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2 comments
This is am unimaginable tragedy for Mr Carter and his family. I understand their desire for compensation for his loss and that even a billion dollars would not replace him.
That said, I am not sure about the whole negligence thing pertaining to a background check. Most background checks I have seen only listed previous charges and perhaps status (pending, guilty, not guilty, NGRI, etc) with no details of the alleged or sustained crimes. Former offenders usually have an incredibly difficult time getting hired anywhere that pays a living wage. A suit such as this (and I am NOT saying that Mr Carter’s family doesn’t deserve compensation for their loss) may cause other former offenders to be unable to find decent work.
Tyrone Campbell sounds like he was just batsh-t crazy to do what he did. Of course the motive will not matter to Mr Carter’s loved ones and it should not.
So many in society can go postal in a split second.
Had an encounter with a tow truck driver that operates his business out of the West Ashley area of Charleston. By no actions of my own, this guy obviously was crazy. Tried to force a locked door on my truck open. Was on the phone with consolidated dispatch. noticed about 500 feet down the street near WA Walmart a City PD officer. Drove to him and quickly explained how the tow truck driver was acting enraged and violent. I did not call for tow services, I don’t even know the guy. I was shopping at Walmart during this time. He just shows up and starts trying to tow my truck without realizing the dark tinted windows blocked him from seeing me. When he saw I was inside the truck, he went off like a volcano erupting.
The cop went looking for him But he had already got away. But based on the name on the doors of the tow truck, the driver/owner Facebook page seems odd.
Cars and Trucks are, in fact, often stolen by shady independent tow truck drivers.