Fourth suspect in fatal Hartsville shooting surrenders
Alternative content
Two arrested, two sought in Hartsville slaying...
Two people have been arrested and two more are being sought in connection with a fatal shooting Sunday night in Hartsville, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said in a press release.Published: June 6, 2009
Updated: June 8, 2009
A fourth suspect wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Hartsville has turned himself in, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp said in a press release.
Raynard Allen Jenkins, 28, was wanted on a charge of misprision of a felony in connection with the May 31 shooting. He surrendered at the Darlington County Detention Center early Monday afternoon, Kemp said.
Two of the four suspects in the crime were arrested Friday.
Gregory Lamont Benjamin, 23, 3117 Silverpine Lane, Darlington, is charged with murder, grand larceny, misprison of a felony and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, Darlington County Detention Center booking reports show.
Brittany Shantell Benjamin, 20, of 2624 Marcus Valley Drive, Hartsville, is charged with misprison of a felony.
U.S. Marshals arrested a third suspect, 17-year-old Darenzo Trevon “Ghost” Graham, on Saturday night in Baltimore, Kemp said.
Graham was wanted on a murder charge in connection with the shooting. The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office was making arrangements to bring him back to South Carolina on Monday.
The shooting happened at 7:50 p.m. May 31 at the Landmark Inn on South Fourth Street in Hartsville. A group of men were playing basketball in a court behind the inn when they got into an argument, Kemp said. One of the men then pulled out a gun and began shooting.
One of the victims died June 1 from a gunshot wound he suffered. He was identified by Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardee as 25-year-old Forrest Lenn Royall Jr. of Hartsville.
The other victim, identified as 24-year-old Michael Leon Jefferson, 24, of Hartsville, was taken to a Florence hospital for additional treatment.
Police reponding to the shooting also saw marijuana through a window of one room at the hotel and, as result, secured a search warrant to seize it, Kemp said.
A vehicle also was stolen during the same time frame, the chief said.
Darlington County Detention Center booking reports show Graham had been granted bond Nov. 13 for a charge of assault with intent to kill.
Hartsville police said Graham is accused in that case of shooting at a man through his home on Eighth Street in Hartsville. Investigators had to search to find him after the incident and later located him in Chesterfield County.
The May 31 case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about it is asked to call the police department at (843) 383-3013 or the state Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) CRIME SC (274-6372). Callers need not reveal their identities.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Why are these judges not working for the victims and the victim’s families??? Is it not our tax dollars that’s paying their overly priced salaries? And for what? For them to let people who committe attempted murder out on bond? Even worse, now that this criminal has gotten out on bond and NOW HAS KILLED someone!!! who really should be convicted of this crime? Maybe our judicial system should take a bigger responsiblity in this because if it had not been for the judges letting these criminals out then just maybe a mother would still have her son. It’s heart breaking that you can be denied bond on a bogus charge such as “conspiracy” because three or more people can say that you know where you can get drugs from and you don’t have to know these individual, or when men behind in child support can be denied bond.
When are we as a community going to get together and fight for a judicial system that is going to do right by us? A drug dealer get more time under the conspiracy law in South Carolina than a criminal who attempts murder and actually committe a murder. I feel that as a community we should could start voicing our concerns more heavier to these judges and to the district attorney’s office. It’s not right a man working hard to take care of his child can be arrested for a bogus conspiracy charge because someone said he knew where you could score a hit from and be denied bond but an attempted murderer can be released on bond and within months this same criminal kills someone’s son, father, brother, and friend. Hartsville and surrounding areal citizens, it is time that we take a stand against this injustice TODAY!!!
Our justice system needs to be completely revamped. It’s amazing how you can get bonded out for attempted murder but not for failing to pay child support. If someone is ruthless enough to shoot into a dwelling where women and children may be present, how can he/she not be a threat to public safety? We the people need to stand up to these apathetic and incompetent judges. We need to protest peacefully at their homes and places of business. It’s frustrating to hear about citizens losing their lives to criminals that should be locked up at the time of their murders; especially being this is the third time in a year in our area.
Advertisement