In the quiet evening of July 25, 2019, in Sumter, South Carolina, the life of 25-year-old Diego Alonzo Teletor was tragically cut short. Teletor, a Hispanic male, was with his friend, 46-year-old Gregorio Zarate Chun, outside a home in the 300 block of Bowman Drive. It was payday, and the two men were relaxing and having drinks with a friend shortly before 10 p.m.
Their peaceful evening was shattered when they were approached by individuals dressed in black.
The assailants, who were attempting an armed robbery, opened fire on Teletor and Chun. Both men were fatally wounded in the attack. The suspects fled the scene, leaving a community in shock and mourning the senseless loss of two lives. The Sumter Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, believing the attackers may have been targeting members of the Hispanic community in a series of recent robberies.
The investigation led to the apprehension of two suspects. Kelvin Bell, 33, and a 17-year-old male were arrested and charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Teletor and Chun. Due to the gravity of the crime, law enforcement officials sought to have the teenage suspect tried as an adult. In response to concerns about the targeting of Hispanic residents, the Sumter Police Department established a dedicated hotline with Spanish-speaking officers to encourage community members to come forward with information.
