Extradition hearing set for sovereign citizen suspected in Sumter auto shop shooting

UPDATE: 2:30 p.m. -- Demetrius Brown agreed to be extradited willingly, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

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A fugitive man suspected of murder in connection with a Sumter auto body repair shop shooting has been found and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and local Jacksonville, Florida, authorities.

Demetrius Alexander Brown, 38, was detained late Wednesday night, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. He is scheduled for a court hearing later Thursday when he will let authorities know whether he plans to fight extradition back to South Carolina.

If he does not fight extradition, Brown could leave with Sumter authorities as early as Thursday to bring him back to Sumter County, according to Ken Bell, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

“We want to thank the U.S. Marshals Service as well as other agencies that helped make this arrest,” Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said. “We want Mr. Brown to have his day in court, which will help bring closure to Mr. Pack’s family.”

Brown initially faces charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. As the investigation continues, other charges could be forthcoming.

Deputies responded to Auto Doctors at 56 S. Pike Road East about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday upon receiving a call about a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man later identified as 34-year-old Sharmine Pack, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Pack was transported to Palmetto Health Tuomey, where he later died.

Brown is known to authorities in Sumter and Lee counties as a Moorish sovereign citizen, a group of people who follow the belief that they hold sovereignty over local, state and federal laws, government and authority, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Moors, as they’re referred to, are known for clashing violently with law enforcement and committing financial fraud as “paper terrorism.”

Brown’s criminal past in Sumter County includes multiple arrests and convictions for burglary and forgery.

According to the investigation, the shooting is thought to have stemmed from a conversation about a vehicle sale from Pack to Brown.

Stay tuned later for updates from Jacksonville.