A violent and tragic fight in Lamar, South Carolina, has left the community in grief and the state’s law enforcement community in mourning when a constable was shot and died while on duty early Tuesday morning. Around 1:30 a.m., deputies from the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office tried to apprehend a suspect at a home near Lamar.
27-year-old Deputy Devin Mason and another deputy whose name has not been made public went into the house to arrest Cameron Ray Dennett, a 25-year-old man wanted for a number of serious crimes, such as criminal conspiracy, forgery, and a computer-related crime. Authorities said that Dennett was also not allowed to have a gun because of previous legal constraints.
When the deputies got inside the house, they were attacked. Gunfire broke out in what officials called a rapid and aggressive attack. During the exchange, Deputy Mason was hit and died from his injuries. The second cop was also shot, but he lived and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is still in stable condition. During the fight, Dennett was also shot and died at the scene. Investigators haven’t said yet if Dennett shot both deputies himself or if additional people were involved in the incident.
A 28-year-old woman who was in the house at the time and is also wanted for the same crimes as Dennett was arrested without being hurt. Authorities haven’t said what her name is or what her involvement was in the fight, and they haven’t said if they think she was a direct participant in the ambush.
The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office is especially sad about the passing of Deputy Mason. He had only recently started working in law enforcement, having graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy three months before. Last week, he finished his field training, which was the official start of his patrol service.
In a written statement, Sheriff Michael August said he was very sad and called Mason a devoted and honourable officer who rapidly won the respect of his peers. August remarked, “During his time with us, he showed unwavering dedication, integrity, and professionalism.” “Deputy Mason served the people of Darlington County with honour and heart. Even though he was only with us for a short time, we will always remember how he changed us.
Mason’s death is a sad milestone: he is the first police officer in South Carolina to be shot and killed while doing his job in more than three years. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is now in charge of the inquiry, which is what usually happens in officer-involved shootings. They will look at what happened during the arrest attempt, where the gunfire came from, and whether any rules or policies were broken or could have stopped the deadly outcome.
Officials haven’t said exactly why deputies went to the house at that time, but it’s not unusual for them to try to arrest someone in the early morning hours when they think the person is dangerous or likely to run away. It is also not clear if the deputies were ready for armed resistance.
The police in every part of the state have sent messages of sympathy and support to Mason’s family and the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office. People are planning vigils and monuments to honour Mason’s service, and a full formal funeral is expected to happen in the next several days. Leaders in the community have also backed the sheriff’s office and asked for everyone to come together amid what they call a “unimaginably difficult time.”
This terrible event shows how dangerous it is for police officers all the time, especially those who are just starting out in their professions. Deputy Mason had promised to serve and protect his town, but he died in the line of duty far too soon. As the inquiry goes on, the attention now switches to figuring out how this terrible thing happened and how to honour Deputy Mason’s legacy via justice, reflection, and community support.
