In the quiet community of Summerville, South Carolina, the life of 27-year-old Lewis Hay Frampton IV was tragically cut short in the early morning hours of February 15, 2017. A male resident of Summerville, Frampton was found deceased from gunshot wounds when police responded to a shooting on Magwood Drive in the Evergreen subdivision shortly after midnight.
The Dorchester County Coroner's Office later confirmed his identity and the cause of his death.
The incident that claimed Frampton's life also left another individual wounded. This second victim was transported to a local hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. The violent nature of the event sent ripples of concern and sorrow through the local community. Those who knew Lewis Hay Frampton IV remembered him for his engaging personality, quick wit, and a gentle heart that lay beneath a tough exterior. He was a father, a son, and a brother whose sudden and violent death left a void in the lives of his family and friends.
In the wake of the shooting, the Summerville Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to a suspect. Diquann Adonis Cotton, a 21-year-old at the time, was arrested and subsequently charged with murder in connection with Frampton's death. The swift action by law enforcement brought a sense of relief to a community seeking justice and answers for the senseless loss of a young life. The case then moved into the judicial system, with the community closely watching the legal proceedings that would follow.
