A man who was being sought by police in South Carolina in connection with a deadly shooting on the night of Sept. 11 turned himself in to authorities on Sept. 14 according to a report from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Department. The 38-year-old Fountain Inn resident has been charged with homicide and possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Initial reports do not reveal what led deputies to identify the man as a suspect in the shooting.
Deputies discover body
According to a LCSD report, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Garth Road in Fountain Inn at approximately 9:45 p.m. to investigate reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they discovered the body of a 33-year-old man who had suffered a gunshot wound. A coroner later determined that he had died after being shot in the chest with a shotgun.
LCSD launches manhunt
Before he turned himself in, deputies were worried that the man would flee South Carolina and travel to Pennsylvania or New York. After being taken into custody, he was transported to the Johnson Detention Center. Police in Pennsylvania also want to question the man in connection with an ongoing investigation. They believe that he visited a Berks County home in September 2019 and then pistol whipped and shot the man who answered the door. The victim and the victim’s girlfriend are said to have identified him.
Plea agreements in murder cases
Prosecutors may be more willing to make sentencing concessions when individuals accused of committing violent offenses turn themselves in to police. When a jury is likely to find the evidence against their clients compelling, experienced criminal defense attorneys may suggest pursuing the best possible deal at the negotiating table. While the penalties for crimes like murder and attempted murder are severe, prosecutors could be willing to reduce them to avoid the risks and costs of a trial.