Crime
Victim killed in Sumter Walmart shooting identified as 24-year Jaquante Montgomery
Sumter, SC – Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier on Friday at the Walmart Supercenter on Broad Street.
During a press conference Friday evening, Roark confirmed that Chanceler Lowery, 19, of Sumter, was taken into custody after being turned in by his parents.
At approximately 3:00 p.m. on February 14, Sumter police officers responded to reports of an active shooter situation at Walmart Supercenter.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered one victim outside the store suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The exact location of the shooting inside the store remains unclear at this time.
Despite immediate lifesaving efforts by responding officers and bystanders, the victim—24-year-old Jaquante Montgomery—succumbed to his injuries.
Montgomery was transported to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker. Baker further stated that Montgomery had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim’s next of kin has been notified, and an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Authorities have determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence but stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Lowery and Montgomery.
“This appears to be another tragic case of young individuals resorting to firearms to resolve conflicts,” Chief Roark stated. “Unfortunately, this is not just an issue in Sumter but a growing concern nationwide.”
The investigation remains active, and police have indicated that additional individuals may be questioned as part of ongoing interviews.
Chief Roark assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the community, as no further injuries were reported. However, a heightened police presence will remain in the area through Saturday morning as investigators continue their work.
“This was a devastating event that shook our community,” Roark said. “Many shoppers were inside the store during what should have been a routine trip.
The fact that this occurred on the eve of Valentine’s Day, when families were out shopping, makes it even more troubling. We take incidents like this very seriously.”
The Sumter Police Department urges anyone with additional information regarding the case to come forward.
More details will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.