In the early morning hours of October 18, 2015, the life of Damien L. Hewiett, a 22-year-old Black male from Johnsonville, South Carolina, was tragically cut short. The fatal incident unfolded in Hemingway, SC, off State Highway 41 South, following a dispute that originated at a local establishment known as 'Club Recess.' It was around 3:30 a.m. when the altercation escalated, leading to a deadly shooting.
When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Hewiett had succumbed to a gunshot wound.
Known affectionately as 'Dae,' Hewiett was a graduate of Johnsonville High School and was employed by the House of Raeford at the time of his death. His passing sent ripples of grief through his community, leaving family and friends to mourn the sudden and violent loss of a young life. The investigation into his death quickly led to a suspect.
Authorities with the Williamsburg County Sheriff's Department identified Frankie J. Hampton Jr., also 22 and from Hemingway, as the individual responsible for the shooting. According to the investigation, Hampton fired at Hewiett as he was attempting to leave the area where the initial fight had occurred. Hampton was subsequently arrested and faced charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was taken into custody and held at the Williamsburg County Detention Center to await a bond hearing as the legal process against him commenced.
