Mauldin police arrest 3 teens in Bojangles shooting

Mauldin police on Sunday arrested three teenagers in connection with the fatal, drug-related shooting of a 19-year-old at Bojangles, Sgt. Ben Ford said.

Savon Jair Allen, 19, of Harris Lane in Greenville, was in the passenger seat of a pickup truck when he was shot Saturday night in the parking lot of Bojangles, 801 E. Butler Road, authorities said. Allen died of a gunshot wound to the head, the Greenville County Coroner's Office said.

The manner of death was homicide, Coroner Parks Evans said.

William Zachary Newton, 19, was charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Trevonte Antonio Watts, 19, was charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Both are being held without bond at the Greenville County Detention Center.

A 15-year-old girl was also charged in connection with the deadly shooting. Her name is not being released because of her age.

Officers responded to the Bojangles parking lot about 9:15 p.m. Saturday night, police said. Allen and his friend were inside the pickup truck to conduct a drug deal, Ford said.

Newton and Watts approached the pickup truck on foot while the 15-year-old girl remained in another vehicle in the parking lot, Ford said.

"It was supposed to be an exchange and then it turned into an attempted robbery," Ford said.

Gunfire ensued. Allen was shot in the head, the pickup truck driver was shot in the hand, and Watts was shot in the arm by one of the victims, Ford said. Watts appeared in court Sunday afternoon with his arm in a sling.

Detectives recovered all of the weapons used during the shootout, Ford said, and at least two of the weapons were stolen.

Staff writer Romando Dixson covers crime for The Greenville News. Follow this story and others through his Facebook page, Romando The Reporter.