2 arrested during shooting, armed robbery investigation
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Timmonsville Armed Robbery
Timmonsville Armed Robbery
Rebecca J. Ducker/Morning News
Store employees and residents gather in front of Strickland’s Mini-Mart following an armed robbery there Thursday afternoon where the clerk was shot.
Published: August 7, 2009
Updated: August 7, 2009
TIMMONSVILLE — Two Timmonsville men questioned in connection with an armed robbery and shooting at a convenience store Thursday face charges unrelated to that case.
Rontavis McKithen, 18 of 2616 Old Sansbury Road, was arrested Thursday by Florence County sheriff’s deputies on warrants for two counts of armed robbery with a deadly weapon and one count of first-degree burglary, Florence County Sheriff s Capt. Mike Nunn said in a press release issued Friday afternoon.
The burglary warrant alleges that on or about July 29, McKithen entered a residence on Davenport Drive in Timmonsville during the night armed with a firearm and demanded money from the residents. McKithen also is charged with armed robbery with a deadly weapon in connection with this crime, Nunn said.
McKithen’s other armed robbery charge stems from an incident that occurred on or about Sunday, when victims were robbed at gunpoint on the 100 block of Davenport Drive in Timmonsville, Nunn said.
Xavier N. Hickson, 20, of 106 Green Drive, also was arrested Thursday by by Florence County sheriff’s deputies on a warrant for accessory before the fact of a felony, Nunn said. Hickson is accused of calling a victim to the 100 block of Davenport Drive in Timmonsville on Sunday under the pretense of purchasing an item. When the victims arrived, they were robbed at gunpoint.
Both McKithen and Hickson remain in custody at the jail in Effingham awaiting bond hearings.
The two were apprehended about 4 p.m. Thursday as part of the response to the incident at Strickland’s Mini-Mart at Cale Yarborough Highway and U.S. 76, Nunn said.
“We’re glad to get them off the streets where they didn’t belong,” he said.
The store clerk was shot about noon when two men entered the store, brandished a gun and fired at least one shot, Nunn said.
Nunn said about 40 law enforcement officers from surrounding agencies and the State Law Enforcement Division participated in the hunt for the suspects.
The clerk was taken to an area hospital for treatment Thursday after the shooting and released Friday morning.
The suspects ran from the store after the crime toward Sardis, Nunn said.
The search included sheriff’s office canine units, Timmonsville police, Darlington County sheriff’s deputies, S.C. Highway Patrol troopers and SLED air units.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (843) 665-2121 or the state Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) CRIME SC (274-6372). Callers need not reveal their identities.
Reader Reactions
All I said was they sould build a cage in front of the store they robbed and keep them in it treating them like dogs until they beg for enough money to pay for all the bills created by their crimes and then I said there would surely be enough BLEEDING HEARTS on this site to start a collection for them! NOW if I am wrong for saying that just go ahead and BAN ME! I will just post at the other site that does not try and control someones every thought!!!
They delete one of my comments and put the other in the paper!! why no explanation when you delete someones post????
I normally dont comment on certain things but i assume the people that dont like lisa are law enforcement,if not you care to much but unfortunatley too late.crime is everywhere but not everyone is a victim.ive had the opportunity to see the ups and downs of the law.People joke about the law but dont think for a second that they dont make jokes about us, ive seen that too…I also have the feeling that we as people have a responsibility to help each other…no one should point the finger at anyone, it all starts with us….is doughnuts really important?....i think peoples priorties are screwed up…but i do believe that criminals need to be punished…but before i go to all you cops reading this,or LISA HATERS….the drug dealer that requested a warrent that lead to the arrest of these two young men, should either get a reward or be arrested for allowing them to steal his drugs in the first place,,,so thats where we are in america,drug dealers get to request warrents for there drugs being stole, the same drugs theyre saleing to our kids….WOW.and you guys act like LISA is the problem…keep doing your thing LISA!!!!:)NOW WHAT!!!!!
EXCUSE ME!!!
A LEO is a person too and you all know what a job is. Anyhow!!!
The reason why there is so much confusion about their job is they have a responsiblity!!! US!!! You would not believe how much un-reported crime goes on! This is just one incident of at least two dozen a day per police officer. These crimes only get reported when there is real injury. God bless all our LEO men and women who took on this job at this time in USA. Things are only going to get worse in this economy and I plan on protecting myself and family with help or no help. Maybe there is not enough help for this. So, a warrior I will be!!!
Please, no pictures of Lisa. I can get a mental picture of what she looks like just from her comments, not to mention what she probably smells like.
Hopefully she won’t need the help of the police in some future domestic abuse incident, or when her ‘76 Pinto breaks down on the side of the road. She does need to remember though, when speaking to the police…to put in her teeth. And put out her cigarette.
“...worshiped the police department…It’s not going to happen!“
No, and nobody expects you to; but you can give the rest of us a break by saving the disparaging comments for the times they deserve it instead of ALL_THE_FLIPPIN’_TIME.
“Maybe the cops are mad because of her doughnut comments.“
Maybe…or Maybe we other readers are fed up with this place being a little too much like MySpace sometimes. All it needs is pictures + profiles & viola…everyone’s back in High School.
Good job guys! Way to get them!
I personally want to thank the law enforcement agencies involved in this case. My family lives in this area and it makes me feel safer knowing that they came out in such numbers.
Fortunately for us, we live in a State where we do not need the brady bunch’s permission to exercise our right to keep and bear arms. What is needed is #1, money to pay for a gun, be of age to do so, be of sound mind with no felony convictions or plea bargains for them. There is a further restriction on handguns. They may be carried openly by hunters and fishermen[for shooting venomous snakes , you all] ONLY when engaged in those activities or going to and from them. Kind of tricky. For the on the person, concealed carry for self defense, age 21 and a background check, ie: no criminal record is mandatory. Pretty generous i think. Probably 90% of the mature citizens could qualify. See, we don’t need no stinking BRADY law down here!
I’m surprised that so many of you have problems with me.
I guess if I sat back and worshiped the police department, maybe you would like me then.
It’s not going to happen!
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