Florence motel slaying suspects plead 'not guilty'

EFFINGHAM -- Two suspects charged in the June 8 slaying of a decorated World War II veteran outside the Thunderbird Inn in Florence pleaded not guilty to charges of murder Friday morning.

SUSPECTS

Sylvester Davis Jr., left, and Dondre Scott were arrested in connection with the shooting death of 83-year-old World War II veteran Clair C. Chaffin.

LETTERS TO THE JUDGE
Click here to read copies of the letters read to the judge Friday, Aug. 28.

SLED BACKGROUND CHECKS

Read the SLED background checks for Sylvester Davis, 25, of Darlington and Dondre Scott, 16, also of Darlington, who were arrested and charged in the shooting death of Clair C. Chaffin at the Thunderbird Inn in Florence June 8.

• Davis
  
• Scott

Sylvester Davis, 25, and Deondre Scott, 17, both of Darlington, are each charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of Clair C. Chaffin outside his motel room the morning of June 8.

Members of the Chaffin family drove from Florida to be at Friday's hearing before Judge Ralph King Anderson Jr.

Florence County Sheriff's Office Capt. Mike Nunn read aloud letters from the family during the hearing.

Davis and Scott each face additional charges in connection with Chaffin's killing and other incidents in Florence and Richland County, officials at the hearing said.

Davis has eight pending armed robbery charges and Scott six pending armed robbery charges in Florence County, officials said. Several of incidents took place at the Thunderbird, officials said.

They each also face armed robbery charges filed in Richland County related to an incident that took place earlier in the day, June 7, officials said.

Davis was arrested the afternoon of June 9 after a brief vehicle chase in Darlington County, Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said in a previous interview. Davis was in a Chevy Tahoe that had been reported stolen when he was spotted by law enforcement officers near Holly Circle in Darlington County.

Dondre Scott, 17, also of Darlington, was arrested early the night of the crime at a residence on Pisgah Road in Darlington County, Boone said.

Florence County Magistrate Belinda Timmons denied bond for both men on the armed robbery charges after a hearing June 11 in Effingham, saying she felt they are a danger to society, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

According to South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division records, Davis has an extensive arrest record dating back to 2003 and has been charged with more than five felonies.

Prosecutors may pursue the death penalty for the suspects, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III said in a previous interview.

The U.S. Supreme Court prohibits the death penalty being sought against someone under the age of 18, however, Clements said.

Twelfth Circuit attorneys would have to determine who exactly pulled the trigger, then will decide how to pursue the case, he said.

Chaffin, 83 of Archer, Fla., was shot while he was in the process of packing his vehicle after being confronted by two men in an attempted armed robbery about 7 a.m. at the Thunderbird Inn, located at 2004 W. Lucas St., at the U.S. 52/Interstate 95 intersection.

Chaffin was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. An autopsy at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston confirmed the cause of his death as a gunshot wound to the chest area, Florence County Coroner M.G. “Bubba” Matthews said in a previous interview.

Chaffin’s shooting is directly related to a robbery that happened in Richland County at 2 a.m. June 7, Boone said.

State and federal charges against the suspects are being pursued, he said.