SUMTER COUNTY, SC (WBTW) – The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 29-year-old Sumter man Thursday morning, charging him with attempted murder and weapons charges after responding to a shooting incident which left one man hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds.
At 4:19 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of Vaughn Street. Upon arrival, officers found the victim, 39-year-old Sumter resident David Clea, lying on the ground, wounded in the lower body from apparent gunshot wounds, reports Public Information Officer Braden Bunch.
Shortly after arrival, deputies were able to obtain a description of the shooting suspect, Ricardo Mortez Dargan, and provided the information to fellow deputies and area law enforcement. About 35 minutes after the initial call, shortly before 5 a.m., Dargan was apprehended during a traffic stop on SC 441, approximately 15 miles away from the incident, adds Bunch.
The suspected gunman was taken into custody without incident and is being detained at the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center where he will await a bond hearing on attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and felon in possession of a weapon charges.
Bunch confirms Sumter County Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to Tuomey Regional Medical Center for treatment, where he remains as of Thursday morning in critical but stable condition.
The investigation into the incident continues, and Bunch says more charges are possible.
