A Deadly Encounter That Shattered a Community
On December 1, 2025, Charleston County concluded one of its most heartbreaking criminal cases with the sentencing of two individuals responsible for the tragic death of 25-year-old Miqueas Lopez. The case stems from a horrifying incident that occurred on July 13, 2023, on Fuller Street near Piedmont Avenue in Charleston, South Carolina. According to police, Lopez and his three friends had just cashed their paychecks when they were followed for over 10 minutes by 23-year-old Jaimen Quavere Tisdale and 24-year-old Mariah McAteer. What began as a normal evening instantly turned into a nightmare—one that Lopez’s family and community still struggle to comprehend.
A Life Ended in Seconds: The Final Moments of Miqueas Lopez
Authorities say Tisdale and McAteer sat in their vehicle with their two infant children in the backseat as they stalked Lopez’s group after observing them at a convenience store. A chilling video later revealed the moment Tisdale leapt from the passenger side, pointed a gun at Lopez’s vehicle, and fired as Lopez attempted to drive away. The bullet struck Lopez at close range, killing him instantly. His brother and cousin, sitting beside him, witnessed the entire horrifying event.
Dr. Erin Presnell, an MUSC Pathologist, testified that Lopez died from a close-range gunshot wound to the head—a detail that devastated the courtroom and underscored the sheer brutality of the crime. What should have been an ordinary payday turned into the last moments of a young man’s life, stolen in an act of senseless violence.
Justice Delivered but Hearts Still Broken
On December 1, 2025, justice was finally served. Tisdale was convicted of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, three counts of attempted armed robbery, and two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. He received a 55-year prison sentence. McAteer, who pled guilty to accessory after the fact to murder, three counts of attempted armed robbery, and two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Yet, despite the firm sentences, the Lopez family faces a loss that no amount of courtroom justice can ever mend. Miqueas Lopez was more than a victim—he was a brother, a loved one, and a young man with a life ahead of him. His absence leaves behind an irreplaceable void, and the community continues to grieve the senseless violence that took him away.
The case serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly lives can be destroyed and how violence ripples through families, leaving wounds that may never fully heal.