Rock Hill man charged with attempted murder in drug deal shooting

ROCK HILL — Police arrested a Rock Hill man in connection with a shooting that left one man shot and in critical condition last Thursday.

Michael Robert Wylie Jr., 23, of 1038 Henderson St. in Rock Hill, was arrested late Tuesday afternoon and charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, according to Rock Hill arrest warrants.

A magistrate denied Wylie’s bond early Wednesday morning, said Lt. Brad Redfearn with the Rock Hill Police Department. He’ll be transported to Moss Justice Center later Wednesday.

Last Thursday, Skyler Hall, 24, was shot sometime between 8 and 8:30 p.m. during an alleged drug deal gone wrong at Hall’s home at 504 North Confederate Ave. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where last week he was listed in critical condition.

Police arrested Ramon Latavius Baxter, 18, of York, and charged him with attempted murder. Police said two other men were with Baxter at Hall’s home.

Police learned of the shooting during a traffic stop near Constitution Boulevard and Bynum Avenue. A Winthrop police officer stopped Aaron Steward, 24, of Edgemoor, for recklessly driving a black 2001 Ford Focus, according to a Rock Hill police report. Steward’s passenger, Hall, had a visible gunshot wound.

Winthrop authorities contacted Rock Hill police and EMS. Hall told police that three men were at his house during a drug deal when one of the men shot him. Police said then that it was unclear which man shot him.

Steward was not charged in connection to the shooting. As of Wednesday, Hall was listed in stable condition at Carolinas Medical Center, Redfearn said.

York police found Baxter alone in his car later Thursday night.

An arrest warrant states that Wylie “knowingly, willfully and unlawfully” entered Hall’s home with a black revolver. While inside, Wylie shot Hall in the midsection, the warrant states. Baxter’s warrant also states that he carried a black gun.

Police would not disclose which man actually had the gun and pulled the trigger.

“The hand of one is the hand of all,” Redfearn said explaining that regardless of which man actually possessed and fired the gun, all three accomplices would be charged with armed robbery.

The warrant also states that Wylie schemed with Baxter and another man to rob Hall of $1,000 while at his house. Baxter remains jailed at the Moss Justice Center without bond. He’s additionally charged with criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

In 2009, Wylie was arrested for and later pleaded guilty to selling drugs. He was sentenced to three years probation. A similar drug charge against him that year was dropped, according to the S.C. Judicial Department.

A records check with the State Law Enforcement Division shows that Baxter was arrested in January this year for possession of marijuana. He was never convicted.

Police say there’s no obvious connection between this shooting and robbery with other recent shootings and robberies in the same area.

Last Wednesday, 38-year-old Vipul Patel –a store clerk at Discount Food & Beverage on South Cherry Road– was shot during an attempted armed robbery. Police arrested Kadeem Sanders, 20, in connection with the crime. The second robber remains at large.

Just before 4 p.m. Monday, a group of men in two separate cars shot at each other in the parking lot of Jersey Mike’s on Cherry Road while shoppers crowded the same plaza occupied by Earth Fare, a post office and Tuesday Morning. Authorities found one of the cars involved, a Crown Victoria, but the “intended targets” refused to cooperate with police, according to a police report.

As far as suspects are concerned, none of the incidents are connected, Redfearn said, “other than they’re violent and there are guns.”