Latest news with #DarlingtonCounty
Fox News
21 hours ago
- Fox News
South Carolina deputy shot and killed in ambush, sheriff says
A South Carolina deputy who finished field training just last week was shot and killed in an ambush while trying to arrest a suspect at a home early Tuesday, authorities said. Deputy Devin Mason, 27, and a second deputy responded around 1:30 a.m. to a home near Lamar to arrest a wanted person, the Darlington County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. When the two deputies entered the home, they were attacked, the sheriff said. Mason died of his injuries while the second deputy, whose name was not immediately released, was hospitalized and in stable condition. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Cameron Ray Dennett, was also killed. Dennett was wanted for criminal conspiracy, forgery and a computer crime and was not allowed to have a gun, the sheriff's office said. Kristen Porter, a 28-year-old woman, was arrested at the scene, authorities said. Porter was wanted on similar charges. Mason joined the sheriff's office in 2024 and graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in March. He just completed his field training last week, deputies said. "In his time with us, he demonstrated unwavering dedication, integrity and professionalism," Sheriff Michael August said. "Deputy Mason served the people of Darlington County with heart and honor. Though his time with us was far too short, his impact will not be forgotten." No further details about the shooting were immediately provided. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the shooting.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
South Carolina deputy shot and killed in what sheriff says was an ambush
A deputy trying to arrest a suspect in a South Carolina home was ambushed, shot and killed early Tuesday while a second officer was hurt, authorities said. The suspect in the shooting was also killed, the Darlington County Sheriff's Office said. Deputy Devin Mason and the second officer were inside a home near Lamar around 1:30 a.m. when they were attacked, the sheriff's office said in a statement, without providing additional details. Mason died, while the second officer, whose name was not immediately released, was in the hospital in stable condition, authorities said. Cameron Ray Dennett, 25, also was killed in the shooting. He was wanted for criminal conspiracy, forgery and a computer crime and was not allowed to have a gun, deputies said. A 28-year-old woman facing similar charges was taken into custody and was not hurt, investigators said, Mason, 27, graduated from the state's criminal justice academy three months ago and had just finished field training last week, Darlington County Sheriff Michael August said in a statement. 'In his time with us, he demonstrated unwavering dedication, integrity, and professionalism,' August said, 'Deputy Mason served the people of Darlington County with heart and honor. Though his time with us was far too short, his impact will not be forgotten.' The State Law Enforcement Division was investigating the shooting. Mason is the first police officer in South Carolina shot and killed in the line of duty in more than three years.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
South Carolina deputy shot and killed in what sheriff says was an ambush
LAMAR, S.C. (AP) — A deputy trying to arrest a suspect in a South Carolina home was ambushed, shot and killed early Tuesday while a second officer was hurt, authorities said. The suspect in the shooting was also killed, the Darlington County Sheriff's Office said. Deputy Devin Mason and the second officer were inside a home near Lamar around 1:30 a.m. when they were attacked, the sheriff's office said in a statement, without providing additional details. Mason died, while the second officer, whose name was not immediately released, was in the hospital in stable condition, authorities said. Cameron Ray Dennett, 25, also was killed in the shooting. He was wanted for criminal conspiracy, forgery and a computer crime and was not allowed to have a gun, deputies said. A 28-year-old woman facing similar charges was taken into custody and was not hurt, investigators said, Mason, 27, graduated from the state's criminal justice academy three months ago and had just finished field training last week, Darlington County Sheriff Michael August said in a statement. 'In his time with us, he demonstrated unwavering dedication, integrity, and professionalism,' August said, 'Deputy Mason served the people of Darlington County with heart and honor. Though his time with us was far too short, his impact will not be forgotten.' The State Law Enforcement Division was investigating the shooting. Mason is the first police officer in South Carolina shot and killed in the line of duty in more than three years.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lawsuit alleges '15-year history' of covered up abuse, neglect at Florence County Christian school
DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The January assault of a toddler by a Maranatha Childcare Center employee was just the latest example in a 15-year history of covered up abuse and neglect at the school, a newly filed lawsuit alleges. A week after 72-year-old Laurin Boyce pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child and sentenced to 90 days in jail, parents of the 20-year-old who she attacked sued her along with several other employees, the school and Free Will Baptist Church of Florence. Church officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday. Maranatha is affiliated with both the national and state associations of Christian schools, according to its website. The civil suit claims all are liable on grounds of negligence, negligence hiring, assault and battery, civil conspiracy and outrage. Boyce was one of four people affiliated with the West Palmetto Street who were arrested as part of an abuse investigation. According to authorities, Boyce 'intentionally and repeatedly' slammed a child's head into a crib, covered their head with a blanket and pressed down on the child's head for a length of time during a Jan. 23 incident at the school. A week later, she approached a child on the playground, knocked them over, picked them up, and then carried them by the arm and leg before 'intentionally dropping the child from waist height onto the child's head. Cases are still pending against the others arrested: Childcare development director Jessica Elmore of Florence, school principal Dawn Kirven of Lamar and pastor Lee B. Patrick of Florence, according to online records. 'Maranatha, through its senior leadership, chose to put the reputation and standing of the church over the best interests of the parents and children who entrusted them and the laws of the state,' attorney Robert F. Goings wrote in the suit filed Thursday in Darlington County Common Pleas Court. The complaint — along with supporting documentation from the school included with the suit — shows a deeper pattern of wrongdoing by Maranatha officials stretching back to 2011. 'The senior leadership of Maranatha created a systemic culture of concealing child abuse, refusing to comply with mandatory reporting requirements and intentionally covering up and lying to parents about neglect and abuse of children at the school,' Goings said. On Jan. 23, a Maranatha employee watched Boyce physically assault a 20-month-old girl in her class, reporting it to Elmore, Kirven and Patrick. After being told no action would be taken, the employee contacted the child's parents on Jan. 29. In a follow-up meeting with Kirven, the parents suspected her of lying and asked to review surveillance footage of the incident. They were reportedly shown a shorter portion that omitted the assault, Goings said in the suit. 'When (the father) asked to see a longer clip of the video that depicts more interaction … Kirven said the video was 'messing up' or 'skipping' — all a lie to prevent (the parents) from viewing the footage,' the complaint says. After asking Kirven to step away from the computer and allowing the video to play through, the parents witnessed Boyce's assault and asked whether Maranatha officials reported it to state regulators or law enforcement, which they failed to, the complaint says. The child's father contacted the Florence County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 31, prompting its investigation. 'As a result, evidence was seized from the church which revealed over 20 documents incidents of abuse, assault or neglect committed by Boyce at Maranatha that the church knew about and had actively concealed from parents, South Carolina Department of Social Services and law enforcement for years,' Goings said. Employee incident reports obtained by Goings and attached to the lawsuit identify Boyce as the recipient of numerous written warnings for episodes including leaving toddlers unsupervised in cribs, arriving to class late, verbally abusing co-workers in front of children and striking students. 'I expressed concern regarding her putting her hands on the kids and I told her that it could not happen. I told her that is the easiest way to get on the news, get arrested and get DSS called to our preschool,' a supervisor wrote in a Dec. 12, 2019 incident report involving Boyce. 'I didn't suspend Laurin because I am just going off hearsay.' The lawsuit accuses Maranatha's leadership of enabling her behavior by continuing to keep on the payroll despite the mounting complaints. They 'and other employees of Maranatha continued to deny the abuse that took place at their facilities — despite clear and unwavering evidence that minor children were, and have been for a long time, assaulted and neglected by Boyce,' the complaint says. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
