Bond denied for suspects in fatal hotel shooting

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.

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In January, SLED records show, Davis’ probation was revoked.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.