Sumter deputies investigate homicide of 27-year-old man

The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 27-year-old man who was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in his Seidler Drive residence on Feb. 20.
Deputies identified the victim as Maurice Dontae James, according to Deputy Adrienne Sarvis, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.
James’ next of kin has been notified, and an autopsy has been scheduled for 11 a.m. on Feb. 23 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, according to Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker.
James’ death is being investigated as a homicide.
No other information is available at this time, according to the sheriff's office.
Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (803) 436-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Tips can also be submitted anonymously and electronically by going to p3tips.com.
This is the fourth homicide in Sumter to occur this year.
On Jan. 1, a Sumter County Sheriff's Office deputy discovered the body of Montrel Epps, 23, about 4:30 a.m. off McCrays Mill Road during a property check after seeing the man's vehicle parked in the area. Epps died from a gunshot wound.
Deontae Rashawn Jackson, 20, of Sumter, was arrested in Richland County and is facing a murder charge. A bond was deferred for the murder charge.
On the morning of Jan. 20, the body of a 17-year-old was discovered off a Sumter County road.
Antwan Dukes, of Belmont Drive, was found dead in front of an abandoned residence on Wilder Street. Dukes was killed by a gunshot. Deputies said his death is being investigated as suspicious.
On Jan. 28, a woman was found dead at the Downtown Sumter Motor Inn from what police said was a domestic violence incident.
The autopsy on Ebony Elizabeth Canty, 35, of Blanche Road, showed the cause of death was from blunt head trauma and strangulation.
Freddie Curtis, 44, of Hickory Road, faces a murder charge and probation violation charge. Curtis reportedly had a relationship with Canty and was at the scene and taken into custody. Bond was denied for the murder charge with a $100,000 bond for the probation violation charge.