On an evening in Sumter, South Carolina, what began as a casual gathering among neighbors took a tragic and fatal turn, ending the life of 56-year-old Barry Lee Thompson. The male victim was socializing with others on August 29, 2023, at a neighbor's home on Arnaud Street. An argument erupted between Thompson and another man present, his 65-year-old neighbor, Ronald Glenn Rodgers.
The verbal dispute escalated dramatically when Rodgers allegedly produced a firearm and shot Thompson.
The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. in the backyard of the residence. Emergency services were called to the scene, and Thompson was rushed to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Rodgers fled the scene in a vehicle. However, law enforcement officers located him a short time later on Miller Road, approximately 1.5 miles away from the site of the altercation. He was pulled over and taken into custody without incident. A gun was discovered inside his vehicle during a search.
Following his arrest, Ronald Glenn Rodgers was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was subsequently booked at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center to await legal proceedings. While an arrest has been made, the police investigation into the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation is considered ongoing. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed to formally determine the cause of death.
