Search ends for armed, dangerous man wanted in robbery, killing at business, cops say
A search for an armed and dangerous man wanted after a Midlands man’s body was recently found at the auto repair garage where he worked has ended, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said.
Senque Rashad-Tyrek Robinson was arrested Friday, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Robinson, 24, was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery and is a person of interest in the ongoing investigation into the July shooting death of Willie McDuffie, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Major Randall Stewart previously told The State that Robinson was not currently wanted for murder, but he could face more charges.
The sheriff’s office said Robinson was arrested at a home on Hidden Oaks Road in Sumter after it received an anonymous tip from the community. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division assisted in the arrest, according to the release.
Robinson is accused of conspiring with Priscilla Graves to use a weapon and rob McDuffie, the sheriff’s office said.
On July 28, Graves was arrested on a conspiracy to commit armed robbery charge, according to the sheriff’s office. After the initial arrest and more evidence was verified, Graves was also charged with murder on Aug. 2, the sheriff’s office said.
On July 18, Graves lured McDuffie to the auto repair garage where he worked, the sheriff’s office said. At the maintenance shop in the 1500 block of Airport Road, McDuffie was robbed of a large sum of money and shot several times, according to the sheriff’s office.
The 70-year-old Lee County resident died at the scene, and his body wasn’t found until the following morning, when the maintenance shop was about to open for business, the sheriff’s office said.
A bond hearing was held Saturday for Robinson, who was considered “armed and dangerous” prior to being arrested and locked up at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. Information about the outcome of the bond hearing was not available.
Graves was previously denied bond and is being held at the jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
Despite the arrests, the sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing.
In addition to Graves and Robinson, Stewart said there is another person of interest in the shooting.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 803-436-2000, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.
The auto shop is close to North Main Street, not far from the intersection of Broad Street and U.S. 76. McDuffie worked there along with family members and friends, according to the sheriff’s office.
“We want to get closure for the family,” Stewart said. “They deserve it, they just opened that garage to help the little people.”
Robinson has been arrested in the past, Sumter County court records show.
In a December 2016 arrest, Robinson was charged with 13 counts of larceny (breaking into motor vehicle or tanks, pumps, where fuel, lubricants stored), pleading guilty to five of them, in addition to two counts of financial transaction card fraud, pleading guilty to one of those charges, according to court records. In that same arrest, Robinson was also charged with criminal conspiracy, but that was not prosecuted, court records show.
Earlier in 2016, Robinson was found guilty of disturbing schools, according to court records.
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This story was originally published August 15, 2022 at 2:13 PM.
