News Summary
A 17-year-old juvenile has been charged with attempted murder in Bishopville, South Carolina, after allegedly hitting a 15-year-old with a vehicle during a violent confrontation at a Dollar Tree parking lot. The incident raised concerns about youth violence and reckless behavior. Two adults were also arrested, and several teenagers face charges. The 17-year-old will be processed as an adult and remains in custody while investigations continue. Community discussions reflect on the impact of youth violence and the need for preventive measures.
Bishopville, South Carolina – A 17-year-old juvenile has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly hitting a 15-year-old with a vehicle during a violent altercation that unfolded at a Dollar Tree parking lot on Sunday afternoon. This incident has raised serious concerns about youth violence and reckless behavior in the community.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office received calls reporting a disturbance around 2 p.m., which involved a confrontation between two adults and three juveniles. During the altercation, the 17-year-old suspect used a vehicle to strike the 15-year-old juvenile. Following the collision, the vehicle crashed into the Dollar Tree store, resulting in significant structural damage, before rolling back and hitting another occupied vehicle in the parking lot.
The 15-year-old victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated following the incident. In response to the events, law enforcement arrested two adult suspects: Celvin Hickman, 19, and Shamirah Blyther, 24, both from Bishopville. Hickman was charged with disorderly conduct and malicious injury to property, while Blyther faced a charge of disorderly conduct.
In addition to the adult arrests, two other juveniles involved in the altercation were also charged with disorderly conduct and subsequently released to their legal guardians. The 17-year-old who drove the vehicle faces multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, disorderly conduct, and malicious injury to property with damages exceeding $10,000 as well as $2,000.
Due to the gravity of the accusations, the 17-year-old is being processed as an adult under South Carolina law, which mandates that individuals aged 17 be charged as adults for certain serious offenses. This particular law, enacted in 2016, is aimed at addressing violent crimes committed by minors.
The juvenile suspect is currently being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia. The investigation into this incident is ongoing, with law enforcement officials examining the circumstances of the initial dispute that led to the altercation. As a precautionary measure, the Dollar Tree store has temporarily closed due to the damage caused by the crash.
The unfolding events have sparked discussions within the community regarding the influence of youth violence and the involvement of teenagers in such dangerous confrontations. While details about what instigated the fight have not been publicly released, law enforcement officials are expected to provide further information as their investigation progresses.
This situation serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of violent disputes, particularly among young individuals and the need for effective interventions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Community leaders and parents alike are likely to be reflecting on the implications of this incident and how best to ensure the safety and well-being of local youth.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- WIS News 10
- Google Search: Bishopville South Carolina Dollar Tree incident
- WLTX
- Wikipedia: Youth violence
- The State
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Crime
- WPDE
- Google News: Lee County South Carolina fights
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