SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Sumter County authorities have arrested a 35-year-old man for murder following a Tuesday afternoon shooting.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said dispatchers received a report of shots fired in the area of Brent and Whitehorse streets around 6:20 p.m. Responding deputies then heard a gunshot and found the victim, Chris Burno Abrams of Sumter and a witness trying to help him. Emergency Medical Services arrived and took the victim to Prisma Health Tuomey, where he died.
Witnesses reported that 35-year-old Demetrius Rico Fleming and the victim were in a fight when Fleming pulled out a gun and shot Abrams. A search with K-9s followed, and the deputy led deputies to a nearby location with additional evidence. Investigators later found the suspect and took him into custody.
Fleming is charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain crimes. While specifics regarding what led up to the fight and shooting were not released, the sheriff's office said the shooting appears to be an isolated incident that stemmed from a disagreement. The sheriff's office also said the two knew one another.
Fleming's bond has been denied, and he remains at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.