Victim’s girlfriend one of nine arrested as police share disturbing theory about death of 16-year-old

The girlfriend of a teenager killed in the US is revealed to be one of nine people arrested in connection to his death, as police reveal chilling theory about the killing.

16-year-old Trey Dean Wright was gunned down and killed in a rural area in the US state of South Carolina on 24 June.

The teenager was left to die in the road by his assailants, with local law enforcement discovering Wright at 11:30pm that night and transporting him to a nearby hospital – where he would succumb to his injuries the following day.

Police later arrested 19-year-old Devan Scott Raper on suspicion of fatally shooting Wright, with a further eight teenagers later being accused of being connected to the shooting.

This includes Wright's 17-year-old girlfriend, Gianna Helene Kistenmacher.

16-year-old Trey died after being shot on 24 June (GoFundMe)

According to investigators, Kistenmacher allegedly led Wright to the remote location in Florence County knowing that Raper would be armed and waiting for him.

Wright was then said to have been confronted by a group of teenagers, with the 'verbal altercation' turning violent when Raper allegedly shot the teenager.

Officers have also suggested the incident - including the aftermath of Wright's shooting - had been filmed.

Raper has since been charged with murder as well as the possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

But more chillingly is the suggestion that Wright's killing was the result of a love-triangle between himself, Kistenmacher and Raper.

"They had issues with each other, and it was over a female," Sheriff T.J. Joye told WBTW.

He continued: "The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?"

Kistenmacher has since been charged with being an accessory before the fact of a felony.

According to police, she had known that Raper was armed and brought Wright to the location in order to instigate a confrontation.

Wright's 17-year-old girlfriend Gianna Helene Kistenmacher is one of nine charged over his death (Florence County Sheriff's Office)

Other members of the group arrested include include Corrine Belviso, 18, Hunter Kendall, 18 and Sydney Kearns, 17. Details about the four other teenagers involved in the case have not been released as they are underage.

Meanwhile, News 13 reports that a tenth teenager is set to turn themselves in over the incident.

"They were complicit in bringing the armed codependent, Raper, to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation,” Maj. Michael Nunn, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, said of the group in an interview with WBTW-TV.

"They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrant."

In the meantime, Wright's friends have launched a GoFundMe to help his family cover funeral costs and other expenses. You can view it here.