Murder suspects sought

Police: Murder victim Lizard Man witness

By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON
Item Staff Writer
arobertson@theitem.com

Two suspects sought in connection with a Wednesday night fatal shooting of a 37-year-old Sumter man are on the loose and should be considered armed and dangerous, officials with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office say.

Investigators have linked Anogory Santrell Slater, 22, and Lakiem Davar Butler, 19, to the killing of Christopher Davis on Dubose Siding Road, the sheriff’s office said.

Both were added to Sumter’s Most Wanted List on Saturday afternoon.

Slater is described as black, 6 feet and 145 pounds. He has brown eyes and short black hair. His last known residence is 7471 Bennett Drive in Rembert.
Butler is described as black, 5 feet 7 inches and 160 pounds. He has brown eyes and short black hair. His last known residence is 1561 Bradley Road in Camden.

Police request that anyone with information about the whereabouts of these suspects to call (803) 436-2700 or (803) 436-2718.

According to reports, Davis was shot to death about 10:25 p.m. on Thursday after
]three black men wearing dark clothing entered his home at 5230 DuBose Siding Road. He was pronounced dead by Sumter County Deputy Coroner Bob Lybrand at 10:50 p.m. from multiple gunshot wounds to the arm.

"We developed the suspects early in the investigation, but we wanted to get a positive identification before releasing any information,” said Sheriff Anthony Dennis.

“We are looking for other suspects and expect more arrests.”
The results of Davis’ autopsy are still pending, said Sumter County Coroner Harvin Bullock.

A Lee County native who had recently moved to Sumter, Davis became an international celebrity at the age of 16 when he reported the first sighting of the legendary Lizard Man of Lee County in July 1988.

His killing, said Dennis, was drug-related. A narcotics officer recovered 10 grams of marijuana and two scales from the kitchen of his home, the sheriff said.

Because the investigation is still pending, he was unable to provide more information, except that a shotgun was used as the murder weapon and that Slater and Butler both had criminal records.

According to the police report, five other people were present at the time of the shooting. They were Davis’ girlfriend, his brother, the brother’s friend, Davis’ 12-year-old daughter and his 14-year-old son, who witnessed the shooting. None was injured.