North Charleston police arrested a second suspect Friday in the December shooting death of a 4-year-old child on Van Buren Street.

Marcus Dupri Moon Garner Jr., 20, was taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation into the Dec. 16 incident that shocked the community and renewed calls for action against gun violence in the Charleston area.

The shooting occurred in broad daylight on Van Buren Street in North Charleston’s Park Circle neighborhood, an area that has seen increased development and gentrification in recent years but continues to grapple with periodic violent crime.

North Charleston Police Department spokesman Harve Jacobs said detectives worked around the clock to identify and locate the second suspect. “Our investigators pursued every lead in this case,” Jacobs said. “The death of any child from gun violence demands our full attention and resources.”

Garner faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was booked into the Charleston County Detention Center and awaits a bond hearing.

The first arrest in the case came three days after the shooting when police took 19-year-old Javon Marquise Williams into custody on identical charges. Williams remains held without bond at the county jail.

Court records show both suspects have prior arrests in Charleston County, though details of their previous charges were not immediately available Friday evening.

The 4-year-old victim, whose name has not been released by authorities, was struck by gunfire while inside a residence on Van Buren Street around 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 16. The child was rushed to Medical University of South Carolina but died from injuries sustained in the shooting.

Police have not released details about what led to the shooting or whether the child was an intended target. Investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Van Buren Street shooting marked the second child fatality from gun violence in North Charleston this year, following the September death of a 7-year-old struck by stray bullets during a dispute outside an apartment complex on Rivers Avenue.

North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey called the December shooting “a senseless tragedy that has devastated a family and our entire community.” The mayor has not responded to requests for comment on Friday’s arrest.

The incident has drawn attention from local government officials who have struggled to address rising gun violence across the Charleston metropolitan area. Charleston County recorded 47 homicides in 2024, up from 41 the previous year, according to data compiled by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office.

Community activists in North Charleston have organized several vigils and called for increased investment in violence prevention programs. The Park Circle Neighborhood Association plans to hold a town hall meeting next week to discuss safety concerns with city officials.

“We cannot accept this as normal,” said Rev. Patricia Williams, who leads the North Charleston Community Action Network. “These children deserve to grow up without fear in their own neighborhoods.”

The arrests come as North Charleston police face scrutiny over their response time to violent crime calls and staffing shortages that have left some patrol areas understaffed during peak hours. The department has 15 vacant positions out of 185 authorized sworn officers, according to city budget documents.

Chief Reggie Burgess said the Van Buren Street investigation demonstrates his department’s commitment to solving violent crimes despite resource constraints. “We will not rest until everyone responsible for this child’s death is held accountable,” Burgess said.

Both suspects are expected to appear in Charleston County magistrate court within 24 hours of their arrests. The Charleston County Solicitor’s Office has not indicated whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.

State law allows capital punishment for defendants convicted of murdering victims under age 11, but prosecutors must file notice of their intent to seek the death penalty within 30 days of indictment.

The investigation remains active with detectives continuing to interview witnesses and review surveillance footage from the area. Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact North Charleston police at 843-740-2800 or Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111.

Funeral services for the 4-year-old victim were held Dec. 23 at Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church in North Charleston. The family has established a memorial fund to support violence prevention programs in the child’s memory.

The Van Buren Street case represents one of several high-profile violent crimes that have shaped public safety discussions in North Charleston this year. City Council is scheduled to review the police department’s budget and staffing needs during its January planning retreat.