LANCASTER, S.C. — The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man in connection with a shooting death on Zion Road in Lancaster on Friday, March 22.
Ny’Jeri Izay Patterson, 17, of Lancaster, was charged with murder, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime in the death of Stephen Donovan Carter, 18, of Lancaster.
Patterson was arrested without incident Sunday, March 24, at his home on Douglas Road. He will be charged as an adult in the case.
Patterson appeared before a magistrate on Monday, March 25, but his bond was denied. He’s now in the Lancaster County Detention Center. He will appear in General Sessions Court at a future date.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators believe that Patterson arranged a meeting with Carter outside his home near 2116 Zion Road to sell him a firearm about 11:15 p.m. But instead, Carter was shot and robbed.
Deputies found Carter across the road from his house being attended to by family members. Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived and began treating Carter, who died from an apparent gunshot wound or wounds.
Family members reported that Carter was outside, and they and other nearby witnesses heard a gunshot. Family members looked for Carter and found him on the ground across the road.
Investigators with the Lancaster County Multijurisdictional Violent Crime Task Force, along with investigators with the sheriff’s office Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene to begin the investigation. The scene was processed, and evidence was collected.
Law enforcement officials later identified Patterson as the person Carter had been communicating with during their investigation.
“Mr. Carter’s family members and others at the scene as we began the investigation provided crucial information that allowed us to identify Patterson as a suspect Friday night,” said Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile.
“We had assistance from the State Law Enforcement Division and the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office throughout the weekend and had enough evidence by Sunday night to take Patterson into custody. If our investigators determine that others were involved in this, we will seek appropriate charges and make additional arrests.”
The investigation is still ongoing.
