19-year-old sought in connection with Sumter shooting that left victim in critical condition
A 17-year-old male is in critical condition and a 19-year-old is being sought after a shooting on Wednesday on West Patricia Drive, according to Adrienne Sarvis, public relations officer with Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office is searching for Tas’Je Spann, last known address on Clement Road, in connection with the incident. Investigators think the two men knew each other and that Spann fired at the victim because of a dispute. There is no indication that the shooting is gang related, according to Sarvis.
“It seems that disputes, verbal or physical, are more often settled with guns and violence,” Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a news release.
“Instead of calling law enforcement to help,” he said, “some people are quick to result to violence with little to no thought of the consequences to themselves and others.”
“We are also finding that many of these violent incidents we encounter start at late-hour night clubs in the county,” he said. “So, we will be more proactive and have deputies monitor those clubs.”
“Law enforcement does not know what is happening behind closed doors unless someone tells us,” Dennis said. “We ask the public to tell us about threats and suspicious behavior and people so we can step in before something bad happens.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (803) 436-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Callers can remain anonymous.
Information can also be given anonymously by going to www.p3tips.com.