In the summer warmth of Sumter, South Carolina, the life of 15-year-old Derrick Ronrigus Wilson was tragically cut short. Known affectionately as 'CD,' the young man was last seen on a Tuesday in late July 2024, leaving a relative's home on Meadow Circle. He reportedly got into a car with two other people and vanished, prompting his family to report him missing the following day.
The cheerful spirit of the boy, who was known for his love of cracking jokes, was suddenly absent from their lives.
A sense of dread turned to heartbreak when, on Thursday, July 25, 2024, Sumter Police discovered Derrick's body in the vicinity of Hoyt and Nelson streets. He had been shot to death just one day before he would have celebrated his 16th birthday. Instead of planning a party, his family found themselves preparing for a funeral and a balloon release to honor the life that was stolen from them. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed to determine the exact cause and manner of his death.
The investigation into Derrick's death quickly led to the identification of multiple suspects. Authorities announced that 17-year-old Jaylen Hammett was taken into custody and charged with accessory before the fact of murder. Another suspect, 20-year-old Ja'Hugh Martin, turned himself in to the Sumter Police Department on the following Monday afternoon and was expected to be charged with murder. Both Hammett and Martin were booked into the Sumter County Detention Center.
As the investigation continued, two more individuals were identified as suspects in connection with the teenager's murder. Police announced that 21-year-old Keiante Jackson was in custody. A search was also launched for a fourth suspect, 20-year-old Cedric Wright, who was wanted for murder.
