In the early morning hours of July 1, 2025, a tragic series of events unfolded in Lamar, South Carolina, leading to the death of 27-year-old Darlington County Sheriff's Deputy Devin Mason. A newly minted law enforcement officer, Mason had only recently completed his field training in the week prior to the fatal encounter.
Responding to a call about a wanted person, Deputy Mason and another officer arrived at a residence on Old Timers Court around 1:30 a.m.
Inside the home, the deputies were met with an ambush. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Cameron Ray Dennett, opened fire on the officers. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, both Deputy Mason and Dennett were fatally wounded. The second deputy sustained injuries but was reported to be in stable condition.
Dennett was being sought on charges of criminal conspiracy, forgery, and a computer crime and was prohibited from possessing a firearm. In the aftermath of the shooting, two other individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. Kristen Porter, 28, who was also wanted on charges of criminal conspiracy and forgery, was taken into custody at the scene.
A couple of days later, authorities arrested Dennett's 77-year-old mother, Linda Perry Dennett. She was charged with obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony, accused of misleading the deputies by claiming her son was not at the residence when they arrived. Reports indicate that after the shooting, she admitted to knowing her son was in the house and was armed.
