In the quiet, early morning hours of September 30, 2019, the life of 42-year-old McKenize Corey Stewart, a male resident of Sumter, South Carolina, was tragically cut short in his Dingle Street home. At approximately 2:47 a.m., two individuals forcibly entered his residence in what authorities described as a home invasion and attempted armed robbery. The intruders demanded money, and in the ensuing moments, shots were fired.
Stewart sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The initial investigation launched by the Sumter Police Department and the Sumter County Coroner’s Office left the community seeking answers, with no immediate descriptions of the suspects available. However, tips from the public proved crucial in the months that followed. Between January 9 and 10, 2020, a significant breakthrough occurred with the arrest of three teenagers, aged 15, 16, and 17. The investigation revealed that two of the teens had entered Stewart's home to commit the robbery while the third waited outside.
Shortly after the initial arrests, a fourth suspect, a 16-year-old, was also taken into custody and faced similar charges. All four teenagers were charged with murder, first-degree burglary, conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Due to their ages, their identities were not publicly released. The young men were taken to a South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice facility to be held. The robbery yielded some money and other items from Stewart's home, a small gain that led to a devastating loss for his family and community.
