SLED mum on case info
Agency seeks public's help in solving crime
Colleton County sheriff's Deputy Dennis Compton
Previous stories
Small community shocked by shooting death of sheriff's deputy, published 08/08/08
'To the heavens and back'; Slain man's wife says she lost half of herself, published 08/08/08
Three in custody; Deputy fatally shot responding to Smoaks home burglar alarm, published 08/07/08
To offer tips
To report information about the shooting death of Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton, call Crime Stoppers locally at 554-1111 or 1-888-CRIMESC statewide. Tips can also be made directly to SLED's state Information and Intelligence Center at 1-866-472-8477.
To help the family
--Donations may be made to the Dennis Compton Family Fund at the Enterprise Bank of South Carolina.
--Palmetto Cops Inc., a nonprofit, is selling memorial T-shirts to benefit the family. For more information or to place an order, go to www.palmettocops.com/give. Shirts are $15 each and all proceeds will go directly to the family.
Services
Funeral services for slain Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton will be at 10 a.m. today at the First Baptist Church of Walterboro, 124 S. Memorial Ave. in Walterboro.
Burial will be in Virginia.
On the eve of Colleton County Deputy Dennis Compton's funeral, state police weren't saying much about how three persons of interest in the case are related, if at all, to the deputy's shooting death Wednesday in Smoaks.
The State Law Enforcement Division asked for help late Friday afternoon in solving the case and provided phone numbers that residents can call to give them tips.
SLED, which is the lead investigating agency in the case, won't say whether the three people are in jail or, if they are, what unrelated charges they face.
"SLED agents, in conjunction with several law-enforcement agencies, continue searching for whoever is responsible for (Compton's death)," SLED spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said in a prepared statement. "While numerous arrests have been made during this time, they are not associated with this homicide."
Compton's funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today in Walterboro.
The 39-year-old deputy was shot at 3 a.m. Wednesday after responding to a burglar alarm at a home on Sunflower Drive. His wife said he was shot in the stomach with a shotgun.
Later that night, Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash reported that a person of interest in the case was captured after a manhunt in the Indian Springs community off U.S. Highway 17A between Summerville and Knightsville. He said the man was arrested on unrelated traffic charges.
That man and two other persons of interest in Compton's death were being questioned Wednesday night, Colleton County Sheriff George Malone said.
Meanwhile, Timmons said that anyone who knows the identity of Compton's killer should call 911 immediately.
"You could face criminal charges in this case if you are hiding information that could lead to an arrest," she said.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
jammer (anonymous) says...
my sincere condolences to the family
I wonder if this was an accidental shooting, maybe a family member or friend saw someone poking around with a gun n shot not knowing he was a cop then ran once they saw the mistake they made... just a thought because SLED is involved?
August 9, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bagballa (anonymous) says...
Shot in the stomach with a shotgun? My condolences to his family and fellow officers, but was he not wearing body armor?
Maybe the trauma from a close range shot is enough to kill but shotguns aren't really known for punching through armor.
August 9, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Perspective (anonymous) says...
bagballa and others..
He was probably wearing a vest. We should not discuss what type of weapons and ammunition these vests are resistant to. There is no sense is criminals having too much general knowledge of their capabilities. There is plenty of information out there on the web, but we shouldn't put it here. Make the criminals research it between drug deals. Hopefully, they will not take the time. It is safe to say that a shotgun blast to the lower abdomen is sufficient to kill with or without a vest. May the officer RIP.
August 9, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPDBLUE (anonymous) says...
Perspective, I agree with your statement.
August 9, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
Were the three arrested the ones that were caught in Summerville for roberies back as far as two years ago?Also has anyone checked out the relatives story,and how he came into the picture? Just wondering.
August 9, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
luckylady (anonymous) says...
My sincerest condolences to the family/friends and co-workers. What a tragic loss this is. I hope that the person or persons responsible for this are found very soon and held accountable for their sick deed. The family's life has been changed forever.
August 9, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
10216340 (anonymous) says...
I had really hoped that the three people "of interest" that were brought in the first night would be charged but I guess they are either not involved or not enough evidence. That is doubly tragic.
Again, my condolences to the family and friends of Deputy Compton
August 10, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jessie1125 (anonymous) says...
jammer...SLED is always involved when an officer is killed.
August 11, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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