Jamal Ta’Rek Thames, 21, was found fatally shot inside a parked car outside a business on Manning Avenue in Sumter, South Carolina, on the night of Friday, December 22, 2023. Sumter Police responded to a call about 9:30 p.m.; Thames had sustained gunshot wounds and died at the scene. Investigators recovered shell casings at the location.

Police say a physical altercation involving a group occurred shortly before the shooting, but no witnesses provided statements when officers arrived. The Sumter County Coroner’s Office scheduled an autopsy and the Sumter Police Department publicly asked for tips, offering a potential cash reward that could lead to an arrest. No arrests or suspect identifications have been publicly released and the investigation remains active.

If anyone saw activity on Manning Avenue that night or has information about the altercation or the shooting, please contact the Sumter Police Department.