Derek Randell Parson, Jr., known affectionately to his loved ones as “Lil Derek,” was a 19-year-old man from Pinewood, South Carolina, with his future ahead of him. Born on April 10, 2007, in Manning, he was a student in the Sumter County public school system and was on track to graduate with the Class of 2025 from Lakewood High School. Alongside his studies, Derek was employed at Becton Dickinson and Company. He was a cherished son to his parents, Derek Sr.
and Shalonda Parson, and a brother to three sisters and a brother. Derek loved spending time with his family and friends "in the country" and enjoyed traveling with his family. His presence touched many lives, and his legacy is remembered in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
The night of Tuesday, October 6, 2026, ended in tragedy in Sumter County. Around 10:45 p.m., in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Race Track Road, a meeting turned violent. Investigators with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office believe that 22-year-old Antwone De’Monta Dukes had arranged to meet 20-year-old Keywaun Clark with the intention of robbing him of Glock switches, which are illegal devices that convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons. Derek Parson was with Clark at the time.
During the attempted armed robbery, authorities stated that Dukes opened fire, shooting both Clark and Parson. In an attempt to escape, Clark got into his car but crashed into a tree on Race Track Road. A passerby later discovered the wreck and alerted deputies. When they arrived, they found Keywaun Clark deceased in the vehicle from a gunshot wound. In the meantime, a third person had transported both Derek Parson and Antwone Dukes, who had sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the altercation, to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital.
Derek Parson succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The Sumter County Coroner’s Office scheduled autopsies for both Derek and Keywaun Clark at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. The investigation was handled by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Sheriff Anthony Dennis stated, “We are following all leads available to us at this time. We are committed to finding those responsible for this senseless act of violence.”
Following the shooting, Antwone De'Monta Dukes was taken into custody at the hospital. He was charged with two counts of murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. It was noted by the Chief Deputy that Dukes was the son of a former Sumter County sheriff's deputy and the nephew of a current deputy. On Friday, October 9, 2026, Dukes appeared before a magistrate and was denied bond. He was subsequently booked into the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.
A viewing for Derek was held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Whites Mortuary, followed by a Celebration of Life the next day at New Hope UME Church. He was laid to rest at Manning Cemetery. Derek leaves to cherish his memory his parents, siblings, grandparents, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
As of October 2026, the investigation was ongoing, and authorities indicated that more arrests were possible. Antwone Dukes was being held at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing before a circuit court judge. Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at 803-436-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
