In the quiet city of Sumter, South Carolina, the evening of November 24, 2017, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of a beloved local business owner. Vijaykumar Patel, a 57-year-old man, was fatally shot during an attempted armed robbery at the Save-Mart Grocery on Manning Avenue, a store he had owned and operated for approximately seven years.
Remembered as a kind and generous man, Patel was known throughout his community for his willingness to help those in need, often extending credit to customers who were struggling financially.
The tragic incident unfolded just before 7:00 p.m. when two masked individuals, armed with handguns, entered the store. Inside, they encountered two female customers, whom they ordered to the ground. At some point during the commission of the crime, shots were fired, and Mr. Patel sustained several gunshot wounds to his chest. Law enforcement and emergency medical services arrived to find him unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The two customers were physically unharmed.
The Sumter Police Department quickly launched an investigation, and with the help of media coverage and tips from the community, they were able to identify and apprehend two suspects within a week of the shooting. The individuals taken into custody were 17-year-old Sincere Dinkins and 19-year-old Larenzo Hagood. Both had prior juvenile records involving violent crimes. They faced a litany of charges, including murder, attempted armed robbery, two counts of kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of closure to the community and the grieving family of Vijaykumar Patel. Larenzo Hagood ultimately accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. In exchange for his testimony against his co-defendant, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Sincere Dinkins, who was tried as an adult, was convicted of murder in July 2019. Due to his age at the time of the offense, his sentencing was delayed to allow for a hearing to consider factors such as his age, maturity, and potential for rehabilitation, as required by law. He faced a potential sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
