News conference to discuss significant development

State law enforcement officials have scheduled a news conference today to discuss "significant developments" in the shooting death of Colleton County Sheriff's Deputy Dennis Compton.

It was not clear late Sunday whether authorities have made an arrest or filed charges in connection with the case. Colleton County Sheriff's officials have deferred all questions to the State Law Enforcement Division, which has refused to answer questions about the case until today's 12:30 p.m. meeting in Walterboro.

Compton was shot and killed early Aug. 6 while responding to a tripped

burglar alarm at 699 Sunflower Drive near Smoaks. No one was home at the time, but the alarm company alerted the homeowner's son, who found the 39-year-old deputy bleeding in the front yard about 20 minutes later. The son used the deputy's radio to call for help, authorities said.

A next-door neighbor said he heard one gunshot, then three more from another gun, but did not hear a vehicle drive away.

The shooting set off a massive manhunt in northern Colleton County, as state and local officers searched cars and hundreds of wooded acres for clues. They also made several arrests while questioning people about the shooting, but none in relation to the case.

A $25,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects.

Capt. Roger Heaton of SLED said last week that they have exhausted more than 300 leads, collected 190 pieces of evidence and amassed more than 5,000 hours investigating the case.

Heaton released a photo of a gray T-shirt in hopes of determining whether it could be considered a clue.

The shirt, discovered about a half-mile away from the crime scene, says in black and white letters, "It's nice to Meet you. You realLY seem like an interestING person." The white letters spell out, "IM LYING."

Reach Andy Paras at 45-5891 or aparas@postand courier.com.