Bond denied for suspects in fatal hotel shooting
John D. Russell/Morning News
Florence County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit Cpl. Adam Moore collects evidence at the Thunderbird Inn on Monday morning in Florence where 83-year-old World War II veteran Clair C. Chaffin was fatally shot.
Published: June 11, 2009
Bond has been denied for the two suspects accused of killing a decorated World War II veteran outside a Florence hotel room Monday morning.
Sylvester Davis, 25, of Darlington, was arrested about 12:15 p.m. Tuesday after a brief vehicle chase in Darlington County, Sheriff Kenney Boone said. Davis was in a stolen Chevy Tahoe when he was spotted by law enforcement officers near Holly Circle in Darlington County.
Dondre Scott, 17, also of Darlington, was arrested about 5:30 p.m. Monday at a residence on Pisgah Road in Darlington County, Boone said.
Davis and Scott each face a murder charge in connection with Clair C. Chaffin’s death. Each also is charged with four counts of armed robbery.
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.
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.
Florence County Magistrate Belinda Timmons denied bond for both men on the armed robbery charges after a hearing Wednesday afternoon in Effingham, saying she felt they are a danger to society, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
According to state law enforcement division records, Davis has an extensive arrest record dating back to 2003 and has been charged with more than five felonies.
In September 2003 Davis was arrested by Florence police and charged with manufacturing and/or possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute near a school, unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of a stolen pistol, possession of a stolen vehicle and assault of a police officer while resisting arrest.
For both the misdemeanor weapon charge and misdemeanor resisting arrest charge, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and court costs in March 2004.
In March 2004, he was sentenced to three years in jail suspended to six months for the stolen vehicle charge, a felony.
The disposition of the remaining charges, all felonies, wasn’t clear from SLED reports.
In November 2003, Davis was arrested by Darlington police and charged with first-degree burglary, two counts of grand larceny and second-degree burglary, all felonies. In October, he was again arrested by Darlington police for public drunkenness.
In January, SLED records show, Davis’ probation was revoked.
Timmons said the suspects will be arraigned in general sessions court Aug. 7 for the murder charge.
“I think this is going to be a death penalty case,” Boone said Tuesday.
Prosecutors are considering that option, 12th Circuit Solicitor Ed Clements III said.
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 Monday 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.
Chaffin’s shooting is directly related to a robbery that happened in Richland County at 2 a.m. Sunday, Boone said.
That crime happened at the Motel 6 located at 7541 Nates Road where an off-duty probation agent was robbed at gunpoint of her credentials and state-issued .40-caliber handgun, according to a press release issued Monday by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott.
The probation agent was working a security detail at the motel when two unknown black men approached her while she was sitting in her car, Lott said.
The agent said the suspects fled in a burgundy Nissan bearing S.C. license tag DDE 725, which Lott said matched the description of the vehicle involved in Monday morning’s fatal Florence County shooting.
Investigators are trying to determine whether the weapon used in the Florence homicide is the same as the weapon stolen in the Richland County robbery, Boone said.
State and federal charges against the suspects are being pursued, Boone said.
The suspects will likely continue to be detained in Effingham because of the seriousness of the charges they face in Florence County, Boone said. At some point, other agencies will send deputies copies of warrants and detainers relating to the suspects.
A third person in custody will likely be charged in connection with an armed robbery involving the suspects, but not in connection with Chaffin’s death, Boone said. The identity of that person hasn’t been released.
These crimes remain under investigation, and anyone with information about them is asked to call the state Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) CRIME SC (274-6372). Callers need not reveal their identities.
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Reader Reactions
Realtalk must be kin to these individuals.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Chaffin family. From what I have read and heard on television, this was a special man that lived most of his life defending our country. It is too bad that his life was taken in such a violent manner. For the family, I know it’s hard to comprehend such a senseless act but we must know that God makes no mistakes. I will continue to pray for the family and those of you on here that thinks that debating these issues is more important than the precious life that was lost.
None of us is the righteous judge. Stop being so immature. Those guys will have to give an account to God not us. Let the Lord do his work it doesn’t make any sense getting all bother with each other. SC Now or who ever came up with a comment page don’t know what they have started. It’s just another way for someone to get hurt or kill. Let everyone keep their comment to them self. My prayers goes out to both family, I’m going to leave it all the hands of the Lord. Let’s pray for each other because you never know who you might need to help you.
yes Cyclic I DID know the victim “RELLY Well”. I know he was a part of Toys for Tots a program where Marines help make sure underprivileged children still have a great christmas. I could go on but you will just stand up for those who have done nothing but sell drugs to kids and kill a man who was packing up his car and leaving a hotel.
As far as the bible and God please remind me where it says that it is OK to SHOOT and KILL an unarmed 83 year old who was just packing up his car and leaving a hotel.
you can wish whatever you want on my children and family .... however i would NEVER want anyone you know or are related to GUNED DOWN while leaving a hotel and getting in their car.
yes I have called these kids EVIL because they killed someone. Someone who was minding his own business and not bothering anyone.
Both of the 23 year old and the 16 year old have records and have done other crimes. I am glad you want to defend people who have chosen time and time again to do things that I am sure the bible and God don’t agree with.
I am glad you want people who shoot elderly men in cold blood to walk around your town free because they had a “SAD” life.
I also think it is interesting that you quote the bible and God and say not to judge others but you judged me and decided I was not one of those grieving for someone who has done good in this world and was just LEAVING A HOTEL WHEN HE WAS SHOT DOWN.
I am sure God and the Bible have words about how to treat the elderly and shooting them is not part of the plan.
I have read all of your commnts concerning Mr. Chaffi’s death. There have been many opinions and suggestions shared!
I feel that it is the time to put Mr. Chaffin’s death to rest and stop all of the comments.
We are here to honor Mr. Chaffin and not to have a disgruntled website about all of our opinions!
We all respect Mr. Chaffin and let’s just keep it in that way and discontinue the insults!
I did not know Mr. Chaffin - but I think that he would want anyone fretting back and forth about what to do with his murders.
Please end your negavitism!
Dear 2confused,
I agree with you 100% that we have grown adults arguing back and forth. The sad part is that everyone loses and is mourning. Both the victim along with his family as well as the suspects and their family. Some people may say put them to death and some people say let them rott.
And as for you Ms./Mrs./Mr. dvfl, I hope you have or will give birth to some upright, straight path, honest and truthful kids because I don’t want anyone to call your kids EVIL, PUNK, or STUPID just as you did the two suspects.
From reading your comments about both parties you must have known the victim REALLY well to say that he was a GREAT AMAZING man. And you must have known the two suspects REALLY well to call them punks, stupid and evil.
Mr./Mrs./Ms. dvfl the bible tells us to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). And the book also states that “he that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.“
Yes I am a teacher and that’s what I do. I teach, inspire my students, a friend, and a role model. However I CANNOT make the students do what is right. Just like you, that’s if you are a parent, you can teach, inspire your child, be a friend, and a role model but what you can’t do as a parent/teacher is make decisions for them.
One last question for you DVFL would you have posted that same comment on-line if ONE of the suspects been you son, nephew, uncle, brother, or even your father? Hugh, would you?
I pray to GOD that you and your children (that’s if you have any) are without sin (sin-free) to post a comment like that. This is my last comment and I bid you farewell.
it’s amazing how adults (well older people because an adult wouldn’t have a cyber fight) are on a forum aruging back & forth… you all are worrying more about the suspects than the families that are greiving… some of you are saying that you are totally against taking the life of one, but yet you all are shouting, kill them, hang them, execute them… what’s the difference between the two that killed an innocent men & someone taking the lives of the suspect… None with the exception that Mr. Chaffin didn’t do anything to deserve to die… h.e.l.l no i don’t want my tax money to provide shelter for them, that money could go toward my baby’s college fund… but i do say lock them up in a dark hole alone… depression itself will take it’s toll on them…
Dear Cyclic,
I have never posted any response online - but I must now.
How can you defend someone who shot an 80 year old unarmed man? And call it an alleged murder?!?!
As far as D Scott’s “Sad” childhood…. do you think as a marine who was in the line of fire daily saving people’s lives that Clair did not have “Sad” moments in his life… yet instead of turning to selling drugs to kids and KILLING unarmed men Clair chose to be a mentor to young students in Fl and be an amazing person.
Clair also was “Sad” when he lost his wife a few years back. He was on his way to meet up with a friend and go to on a vacation to take his mind off the fact he was living alone when he was shot down in cold blood for NO REASON.
“how can a child know that a stove is hot if they were never told that it’s hot”—- TELL ME HOW MANY 16 year olds DONT know it is WRONG, EVIL AND SICK to kill someone while they are packing up their car to leave a hotel.
AND as a “teacher” maybe you should have taught him the difference between killing in cold blood and being a respectable member of society.
If you knew how troubled this evil kid was why did you not do anything about it?????? Even if his parents did not care about this sorry excuse for a kid there are programs you could have referred him to if you really cared about this sad excuse for a punk.
there was no excuse for this cold blood killing. Even if they were trying to rob him there is no reason he should be dead. You cant tell me 2 young punk stupid kids could not have taken his wallet and walked away and let this GREAT AMAZING man who did nothing but save others in wars go on his way.
Cyclic,
Trust me I totally understand why you may feel that their family situation played a role, and it may have. I understand that you are not making excuses for their actions and no one should. As I stated before everyone is presented with a choice. True enough he may have been neglected as a child but the doors of the church were always open. I find it strange that children from broken homes and awful situations find it so much easier to turn to the streets. If they only knew how much power they hold and that they are royalty in God’s eyes, but they choose to do the works of iniquity. Yes IT IS A CHOICE. Q:How does a child know if a stove is hot if the parents don’t tell them? A: They touch it and get burned. These two men have touched the stove over and over again, this time they happened to jump in the oven. They deserve whatever consequence that they face they evidently didn’t care. I have no remorse for them just for the ones that love them. Once again, my heart goes out to both families.
fight_crime, nicely said and I have to agree. If we start actually following through on the death sentence then maybe it will keep others from commiting these crimes. Why should we have to pay for them to sit in jail, three meals a day and them not have to work for any of it. I swear, it’s almost like that is what they want. I say get rid of them. Maybe they should bring back public hangings!
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