Derek Smith, a 44-year-old Black man from Wedgefield, South Carolina, was killed in a drive-by shooting on September 18, 2022. Authorities say the attack grew out of an earlier confrontation rather than being random, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office opened a homicide investigation to determine what happened and who was responsible.

Investigators identified several people believed connected to the crime and made multiple arrests. A primary suspect was charged with murder; the charged individual’s name has not been widely released. The case is moving into the court process where evidence about the confrontation and each person’s role is expected to be presented.

If anyone in Wedgefield or the surrounding area witnessed the shooting, the earlier confrontation, or has information about those arrested, please share what is known with investigators.