Two months after the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Trey Wright in Florence County, South Carolina, questions are emerging over the role of his girlfriend, 17-year-old Gianna Helene Kistenmacher. Family and friends of the slain teen allege that Kistenmacher, a cheerleader from Myrtle Beach, instigated the confrontation that ultimately led to his death. According to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Wright was shot multiple times on June 24 in a rural area near Johnsonville following a verbal dispute that escalated into gunfire.
Reports from multiple outlets, including The Daily Mail and New York Post, revealed that earlier that day Kistenmacher accused Wright of cheating on her while spending time with 19-year-old Devan Raper, who is now charged with his murder. Witnesses told investigators that during a FaceTime argument, Raper pointed a gun at Kistenmacher’s phone as a threat directed at Wright. Despite this, arrangements were made for Wright to meet Raper and Kistenmacher in what Wright’s mother, Ashley Lindsey, believed her son understood to be a “bare-knuckle fight.”
When the teens arrived in two separate cars at the rural site, witnesses say Wright approached a vehicle and banged on its door before Raper opened fire. Wright was struck several times and later died in the hospital. Kistenmacher, who had driven one of the cars, fled the scene with others involved. Authorities confirmed that the shooting was captured on video by another teen, who has since been charged in connection with the case. Wright’s grandmother, Catherine Lee, told WPDE that the family initially comforted Kistenmacher at the hospital, not realizing she was implicated in the tragedy.
On June 30, authorities announced Kistenmacher’s arrest, charging her with accessory before the fact of a felony. Deputies allege she knew Raper was armed and willingly traveled to the meeting spot despite being aware of threats to Wright’s life. Raper was arrested a day after the shooting and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He is currently being held without bond, while Kistenmacher has been released into the custody of her parents pending court proceedings.
Friends of Wright described the incident as a “childish act that turned real,” recalling the teen’s passion for fishing, lifted trucks, and his reputation as a kindhearted friend. His mother rejected suggestions of a love triangle, calling Kistenmacher her son’s “dream come true” but also labeling her as a “queen bee.” As the investigation continues, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office maintains that the violence stemmed from a verbal dispute that spiraled into a fatal confrontation.
