Days after arrests, 2 teens plead guilty in Richland County K9 deputy’s death, sheriff says
Two teenagers charged in the shooting death of a Richland County K9 deputy have pleaded guilty just days after being arrested, according to Sheriff Leon Lott.
The 13- and 16-year-old teens pled guilty in family court on Monday in the shooting death of Richland County sheriff deputy K9 Bumi, Lott said. The 13-year-old, accused of killing Bumi and shooting at a deputy, pled guilty to attempted murder and assault and battery in the first degree, while the 16-year-old pled guilty to obstruction of justice, according to Lott.
The 16-year-old, who was already wanted by the Department of Juvenile Justice for a violation in Spartanburg County, was sentenced to 12 months of probation for the charge and sent back to Spartanburg County, where he faces charges unrelated to Bumi’s death, Lott said Monday.
A third suspect, Damien Rashawn Brown, 17, accused of driving a stolen vehicle and refusing to stop for deputies, was captured Saturday.
Brown, who was denied bond, is in custody at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The shooting began just before 2:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, when a deputy spotted a car that had been reported stolen near the 7400 block of Parklane Road, according to the sheriff. A chase followed that Lott said ended in the Greenview community after a deputy used a stop stick to deflate the stolen vehicle’s tires.
Two teenagers ran away. A 16-year-old was prevented from getting out of the vehicle and was detained at gunpoint, officials said, and was charged with obstruction of justice and misprision.
Ware and Bumi were among the deputies who responded to the scene. Bumi took off after one of the teens and ran out of sight. Shortly thereafter, Ware and other deputies heard gunshots, according to Lott.
The 13-year-old was arrested Tuesday, Dec. 24, and faced a list of charges, including attempted murder, unlawful killing of a police dog, malicious injury to personal property over $10,000, breach of peace in a high and aggravated nature, possession of a weapon under 18, unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff’s department.
Bumi, whose handler was deputy Alan Ware, was the third K9 the sheriff’s department has lost this year.
“It’s a war out there,” Lott said after a processional for the dog Friday. “Our Deputy Ware is suffering, his family and his kids are suffering. That dog was part of their family. Now it’s just been snatched away for no reason whatsoever.”
The sheriff’s department said assistance from the community and the media led to Brown’s arrest.
“I want to thank everyone who has continued to support K9 Specialist (Alan) Ware and our department after the tragic death of K9 Bumi,” Lott said in a post on Facebook. “Your prayers and acts of kindness remind our deputies why this job is so purposeful.”
