Violent Confrontation: Myrtle Beach Man Charged with Armed Robbery Following Machete Attack

Authorities arrest 33 year old Brian Lamar Keith for an armed robbery in Myrtle Beach where a machete was reportedly used to threaten a victim.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 11:33 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from WMBF News.

Incident Details and Emergency Response

The robbery occurred during the evening hours of February 26 when Myrtle Beach police responded to a distress call regarding a man armed with a large blade. The victim reported that they were walking when the suspect identified as Brian Lamar Keith confronted them and produced a machete. According to investigators Keith used the weapon to intimidate the victim into handing over cash and a mobile device. The victim was not physically harmed during the exchange but remained highly shaken by the presence of the lethal weapon.

Myrtle Beach patrol officers set up a perimeter in the downtown area and utilized K9 units to track the suspect’s flight path. Within an hour of the initial report Keith was spotted near a local motel and was taken into custody without further incident. During a search of the immediate area officers recovered a machete matching the description provided by the victim along with several of the stolen items. The 2026 investigative focus has been on the rapid deployment of specialized units to contain violent offenders in high traffic tourist zones.

Legal Charges and Custody Status

Brian Lamar Keith has been formally charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Under South Carolina law armed robbery is a "no parole" offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence if convicted. Keith was booked into the Myrtle Beach Police Department jail before being transferred to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center for a bond hearing. Records indicate that Keith was already known to local law enforcement from previous property crime incidents in the Grand Strand area.

The Horry County Solicitor’s Office has expressed its intent to seek a high bond given the nature of the weapon involved in the crime. Prosecutors noted that the use of a machete in a public space poses a significant threat to community safety and warrants a rigorous judicial response. Keith is scheduled to appear before a magistrate in early March where his prior criminal history will be weighed against the current felony allegations.