In the early morning hours of Memorial Day, May 27, 2024, the life of 32-year-old Tavareus Keiwaun McFadden of Sumter, South Carolina, was tragically cut short in a fatal drive-by shooting. The incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Green Swamp Road and South Guignard Drive. McFadden was stopped at a traffic light when a white sedan pulled alongside his vehicle.
Suddenly, shots were fired from the sedan, which then sped away.
Responding officers discovered McFadden's car crashed nearby. He was found with an apparent gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. A 28-year-old female passenger in his car was also struck by gunfire. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment and has since recovered from her injuries.
The investigation into the shooting led Sumter police to identify three suspects. On July 10, authorities arrested 19-year-old Curtis Jefferson of Mayesville and 20-year-old Fernando Quintez Adams of Sumter. Both were charged with murder and attempted murder and are being held at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center.
A third suspect, a 16-year-old male, was taken into custody in August following a police chase. Due to his age, his name has not been publicly released. He faces the same charges of murder and attempted murder. The Sumter Police Department has formally requested that the teenager be tried as an adult, a decision that now rests with the Family Court as the investigation continues.
