Dalton Dwyer Moore, an 18-year-old male from Cowpens, South Carolina, tragically lost his life on the evening of May 5, 2017. A recent graduate of Broome High School, Moore was known for his friendly and outgoing nature, and his sudden death sent ripples of shock and grief through the close-knit community. The incident that claimed his life unfolded outside the Timken Community Center in Cowpens, where he was shot.
Despite being rushed to Spartanburg Medical Center for emergency care, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly gained momentum as law enforcement acted on descriptions of the suspects' vehicle and clothing provided by witnesses at the scene. This crucial information led to the swift apprehension of two individuals in connection with the crime. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced the arrests of 19-year-old Devin Zachary Elijah Ruttle and 18-year-old Lorenzo Guillarmo Daniel Calderon. The arrests brought a sense of relief to a community shaken by the violence, as the victim's family began the difficult journey toward seeking justice for their son.
The legal proceedings that followed brought the full story of that fatal night to light. Devin Ruttle faced a charge of murder, while Lorenzo Calderon was charged as an accessory after the fact. During a four-day trial, it was established that Ruttle was the one who had fired the shot that killed Moore. The court found Ruttle guilty of murder and unlawfully carrying a pistol, resulting in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Calderon was found guilty of his role in the crime and received a sentence of five years in prison, to be followed by five years of probation, with the first year of probation to be served under home detention. The convictions brought a measure of closure to Moore's grieving family and the Cowpens community, though the profound loss of a young man's life remained a deep wound.
