In the early summer of 2022, the life of Trevor Sumpter, a 25-year-old Black man from Barnwell, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. His death on June 18 left his family and community in mourning, with funeral services held later that month at the Ned Branch Baptist Church.
The violence unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, June 18. According to Barnwell's police chief, a party had been held nearby, and after the host shut it down at 1 a.m., the crowd moved to Bomba Street.
Around 3 a.m., a shooting was reported in the 200 block of the street. Officers arrived to find Trevor Sumpter with multiple gunshot wounds, including to his chest, an arm, and a leg. As a crowd began to form at the scene, requiring police to call for backup, a bystander started performing chest compressions on Trevor until emergency medical crews arrived.
Paramedics rushed Trevor to the Bamberg-Barnwell Emergency Medical Center in Denmark, but he succumbed to his injuries. The Barnwell County Coroner, Denise Gibson, later confirmed his identity and stated that an autopsy would be performed.
The Barnwell Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. A few days later, on Tuesday, June 21, Police Chief Lamaz Robinson announced that a suspect had turned himself in to authorities. The chief identified the man as Brandon Jamar Davis, a 34-year-old from Salley. At the time of the arrest, the chief noted that there could be additional charges and suspects in the case.
As of the last available reports in June 2022, a suspect had been arrested in connection with Trevor Sumpter's death.
