Sumter deputies identify suspects in fatal shooting, seek public's help to locate them

A man and a woman are wanted in connection to a fatal shooting that occurred Sunday morning in Rembert.

At about 6 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4, deputies responded to a call of shots fired into a car and a victim wounded on Dinkins Mill Road. Upon arrival, deputies identified the victim as Jaquen Marquell Jefferson, 32, of Rembert, the passenger of the vehicle, and he was unresponsive, according to Mark Bordeaux, public information officer with Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Jefferson was taken by Sumter County EMS to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Bordeaux said.

Witness testimony and evidence gathered at the scene indicated that suspects Terone Justin McCray, 35, and Nia Laprece Wright, 28,  both of Rembert, were arguing with Jefferson. The pair allegedly made threats, assaulted Jefferson and waved firearms in the parking lot of a local establishment before the shooting, Bordeaux said.  Both are wanted on charges of murder, according to Bordeaux. 

Sheriff Anthony Dennis described the shooting as “a tragic, isolated incident,” according to Bordeaux.

“These suspects will feel the full weight of law enforcement from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office until they are apprehended. I would advise them  to turn themselves in immediately,” said Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “No one can believe they will bring gun violence to our county and escape justice … It saddens me how often disagreements lead to gun violence. In this incident, a person lost his life."

An arrest warrant has been issued for each suspect, and deputies are trying to locate them.

McCray is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Wright is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 140 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair. 

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of McCray or Wright or has information regarding the shooting is asked to call 911. Information can also be submitted anonymously and for a reward by using p3tips.com or downloading the P3 Tips app for mobile devices. The sheriff's office asked the public to not approach McCray or Wright if seen. 

An investigation is ongoing and more information will be published as it becomes available.