Armed robbery of illegal gun switches led to fatal shooting of 2 at Sumter Dollar General, chief deputy says

Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Hampton Gardner led a news conference on Thursday, Oct. 8, providing an update on the fatal shooting of two men at a county Dollar General. 

The shooting occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at about 10:48 p.m. at the Dollar General on Race Track Road.

According to Gardner, a passerby reported a vehicle had crashed into a tree. Deputies arrived on scene and discovered the victim was suffering from a gunshot wound.  The driver was identifed as 20-year-old Keywaun Clark. 

Investigators determined that Clark parked at the back of the business, and after being shot, the vehicle rolled into a tree. He was pronounced dead on the scene, Gardner said.

While deputies were on scene, emergency dispatch received a call from Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital that two other individuals connected to the incident were also shot and had arrived at the hospital by personal vehicle.  

Deputies learned that Antwone Dukes suffered a gunshot wound to the leg while 19-year-old Derek Parson died as a result of his injuries, Gardner said. 

Dukes’ brother is the third party who drove Dukes to the hospital, Gardner said. How Parson arrived at the hospital is unknown and still under investigation. 

Investigators think Dukes met Clark at the business with the “explicit intent” to rob him of illegal gun switches, according to evidence found at the scene. Gardner explained the switches are used to convert semi-automatic weapons to fully automatic weapons. 

Dukes then reportedly shot and killed Clark and Parson. How the parties knew each other has yet to be determined.  

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, Dukes was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, Gardner said.

Dukes’ father was a former deputy with the sheriff’s office and his uncle currently works with the agency, Gardner said. 

“We are deeply saddened to know that two lives were lost in this violent incident,” Gardner said. “Our hearts go out to these families and our condolences.” 

“It’s a terrible thing when they resort to violence for any means, for any reason,” he added. “We encourage people if you’re going to own a weapon, to be safe with it. Sometimes, that is kind of hard for young people.” 

Dukes has a bond hearing scheduled for Friday morning. 

An investigation is ongoing.