20 years: The prison term for a head shot in a parking lot dispute

A Beaufort County judge has ordered a man to spend two decades in prison for firing a gun at a woman’s head during a dispute in a residential parking lot.

Bernard “Berney” Garvin Jr., 35, was found guilty this week of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The judge added five years of probation to the 20 year sentence. Prosecutors noted that Garvin fired at least four shots, a figure provided by Jeff Kidd, spokesman for the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

The incident occurred in June 2023 at the Hilton Head Gardens apartment complex. Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a shooting and found a pool of blood on the pavement along with spent shell casings. Officers also documented bullet damage to a parked minivan. The female victim had been driving her friend’s vehicle and dropped her off before the woman planned to ride home with a male friend who followed in a second car.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene in the lot where Garvin and another woman were tussling over a liquor bottle. Several people from an all-day party were roaming the area. The victim exited the minivan and asked Garvin why he was “beating that woman.” The two then exchanged angry words. As the man in the second vehicle tried to urge the victim to get inside his car so they could leave, Garvin pulled out a gun and shot her in the head.

The woman was transported to a local hospital and subsequently transferred to another facility. Doctors placed her in intensive care to monitor for possible brain bleeding. Multiple witnesses identified Garvin as the shooter. He was arrested three months after the incident in Georgia. Authorities noted a criminal history for Garvin dating back to 2011, which includes convictions for assault and battery, pointing and presenting a firearm, driving under suspension, and parole violations.