01/09/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The Lancaster County Sheriffโs Office is investigating a suspected homicide in Indian Land. Just before noon Monday, January 5, 2026, deputies were dispatched to 9481 Yarborough Road, Indian Land, and found a 74-year-old white male deceased at his white Chevrolet van in the parking lot behind The Designers Marketplace, a furnishings business. The victim worked at The Designers Marketplace which, along with the other businesses in the complex, was closed over the weekend. It is unknown how long the victim had been deceased behind the business. His body was discovered by a person who drove into the back parking lot to visit the business. The victim had an apparent gunshot wound or wounds. Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and determined the victim was deceased. Personnel of the Lancaster County Coronerโs Office arrived to begin their investigation, and an autopsy will be scheduled. The victim has been identified, but his identity will not be released at this time.
Investigators with the Violent Crime Task Force and the Crime Scene and Evidence Division responded to begin questioning witnesses, examining the victimโs background, and collecting evidence. The investigation is in its early stages. Although an arrest has not been made, law enforcement personnel do not believe there is any ongoing danger to the residents or businesses in the area.
โOur thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this victim,โ said Sheriff Barry Faile. โThere are many unanswered questions about this homicide on the front end of the investigation, but much information has already been gathered which we believe will lead us to a resolution. More information will be released when it is available and when it is appropriate for release.โ
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐, ๐๐๐๐
Calvin Lamarr Allen, age 44, of Charlotte has been charged in the shooting death of 74-year-old Gary Herendeen behind The Designers Marketplace on Yarborough Road. Allen was developed as a suspect in the homicide early in the investigation. After the discovery of Mr. Herendeenโs body mid-day this past Monday, investigators with the Lancaster County Sheriffโs Office Violent Crime Task Force, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department have been gathering background information on Mr. Herendeen and Allen and have documented the movements of the two from the middle of last week through now.
Mr. Herendeen and Allen were acquaintances and have ties to the Charlotte area. They lived in the same boarding house in Charlotte for a time. They apparently fell out with each other some time ago. Investigators believe Mr. Herendeen, who worked part-time at The Designers Marketplace, sometimes slept in his Chevrolet van behind the business and was doing so the night of January 1 into the morning of January 2. Investigators believe Allen drove to that location from Charlotte early the morning of January 2 and shot Mr. Herendeen to death at the van. Mr. Herendeen suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was found lying partially in the van and partially on the parking lot surface.
Investigators got an address in Charlotte for Allen, and Lancaster County Sheriffโs Office investigators coordinated with SLED, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, its Homicide unit, and its Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) to locate Allen. Allen was taken into custody early this morning at his home in Charlotte without incident. Searches are being conducted of the home and Allenโs automobile, and evidence is being gathered and will be processed. The nature of that evidence will not be disclosed at this time. Allen is in custody in Charlotte. Lancaster County Sheriffโs Office investigators obtained arrest warrants for Allen charging him with Murder and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Violent Crime. Allen will appear before a judge in Charlotte, at which time he will have to decide whether to waive extradition and return to Lancaster County. If he does not, extradition proceedings will be initiated.
โAllenโs arrest is the result of lots of skilled, unrelenting investigative work by our investigators, SLED, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD,โ said Sheriff Barry Faile. โWhen events like this happen, time is of the essence. The relationships we have with surrounding agencies allow us to multiply our resources with a phone call or two and get things done quickly and safely, as we did in this case. Many thanks to our investigators and all those folks with SLED and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg PD who made this happen.โ
(All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.)
Anyone with information about this or any other case should call the Lancaster County Sheriffโs Office at 803-283-3388 and select Option 4 or submit a tip in one of the following ways: use the link www.p3tips.com/983 or download the P3Tips mobile app available for both Apple and Android devices. Crime tips may be made anonymously.
