Man accused in shooting, kidnapping, high-speed chase will remain locked up

YORK COUNTY, S.C. — A York County judge ruled Thursday morning that a man who police say shot someone, kidnapped a neighbor and led police on a wild police chase will stay behind bars -- where he's been for the last year and a half.

Police said Robert Beverly was behind the wheel last April during a pursuit from York County all the way to Gaston County.

[RELATED: Manhunt ends with shooting suspect in handcuffs: 'I was scared']

Investigators said Beverly, 31, showed up at a house in Clover and shot into it, hitting a man inside. Beverly then got into a woman's car as he tried to get away and wouldn't let her get out, police said.

He eventually let her go, but then led law enforcement on a desperate chase that ended when he crashed into someone’s house in Gaston County, according to officials.

Authorities were involved in a large-scale manhunt before police dogs helped capture Beverly.

(Beverly)

He was already denied bond once earlier this year and was in court again Thursday, asking to be released.

South Carolina bureau reporter Greg Suskin has been following the complicated story since the beginning and spoke with the family of Daniel Payne, the man Beverly is accused of shooting.

"He ran,” said Carolyn Jones, Payne’s mother. “He ran after that into two counties, and I just think he would run and try to hide as far away as he could get."

Payne said he truly was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He said he had just dropped off a friend at a house when Beverly came to the door.

"Shot me right there, they cut me all down through there," Payne said. "I'd been inside the home less than 10 minutes when the knock came, and he shot through the house. I was thinking 'I'm gonna die' and I don't remember much after that."

Beverly could face 50 years in prison on all the charges against him. He was out of jail on bond for unrelated charges when the shooting and chase happened.

Beverly, who has a lengthy criminal record, did not say anything in court Thursday.

Cox Media Group