IN SPORTS: Tigers on the road to face Louisville tonight
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TONIGHT!~USC Sumter 6:00-9:00 pm
Last chance to pre-purchase tickets IF still available.
$30 before 4pm, $40 at the door Call 803-436-2640 ~ Rain or Shine! THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
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Friend of Roof under investigation Charleston shooting suspect stayed with friend in Lexington
Domestic murder S.C. leads nation in women killed by men BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com “Fifty-seven women killed in South Carolina.” Imagine the shock and horror of waking up one morning and reading that headline in the newspaper or seeing it scroll across the bottom of their TV during the morning news. But, the 57 women didn’t die in a
BY BRUCE SMITH AND MEG KINNARD The Associated Press COLUMBIA — A friend of the suspect in the Charleston church shooting is being investigated for lying to police and not reporting everything he may have known about the crime, a federal law enforcement official has told The Associated Press. Separately, a judge said he will reconsider his ban on publication of some of the documents related to the case. Joey Meek, 21, of Lexington was notified by a so-called target letter that he is under investigation for lying to police and for knowing about a crime before or after it was committed but failing to report it, the official told the AP. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and requested anonymity. The disclosure was first reported by The State newspaper. Meek told the AP that Roof occasionally stayed with him at a mobile home in Red Bank, about 20 miles from Columbia, before the June 17 shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Meek said that he and Roof were school friends but went their separate ways. Then, just weeks before the shooting, Roof started coming around again. ROOF Meek also described how Roof, while drunk on vodka, complained that “blacks were taking over the world” and that “someone needed to do something about it for the white race” before he passed out in the yard. Meek said he took away Roof’s gun the night of his rant but gave it back when he sobered up. Meek also told the AP that he called authorities after recognizing Roof from surveillance footage from the church. He also said Roof said he used birthday money from his parents to buy a .45-caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun. Meek is on probation, having pleaded guilty earlier this year to possessing a stolen vehicle, according to Lexington County court records. Lindsey Fry, Meek’s girlfriend, told the AP on Wednesday that Meek has a good job repairing air conditioners and fears going to jail. He has been trying to get an attorney since receiving the letter. “He’s got a good job now,” Fry said during an interview at the mobile home she shares
SEE ROOF, PAGE A6
grim total puts the Palmetto State at the top of the national rankings for that statistic. “I am not surprised,” said Cley McDonald-Amaker, community outreach coordinator for YWCA Upper Lowlands, a local nonprofit which provides services for victims of domestic violence. Reducing that number will take
RELATED: “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER HELPS WOMEN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET,” ON C10
headline-grabbing spree of violence, but instead it’s the day-byday death toll of women murdered by men during 2013 in South Carolina. According to a study released by the Violence Policy Center, the
SEE WOMEN, PAGE A6
A new place to stop
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Jeremy Johnson works on installing a new traffic light at the intersection of Bultman and Dorcel drives on Wednesday afternoon. The light will allow traffic to exit the new Walmart Neighborhood Store.
Order of Purple Heart honors VA director BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter’s General George L. Mabry Jr. Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 817, recently honored Sumter County Veterans Affairs Director Valerie Brunson for her dedication to PHOTO PROVIDED serving local military veterans. Members of General George L. Mabry Jr. ChapBrunson received a certificate of ter 817 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart appreciation from the order for “her stand with Valerie Brunson, front and center, di- outstanding support to the chapter rector of Sumter County Veterans Affairs, after and to veterans throughout Sumter presenting her with a Certificate of AppreciaCounty,” according to a news release tion. From left to right, front row: Chapter Com- from the chapter. mander Jamie Carl O’Neal and Patriots Ron HarIn the release, the chapter comvin and Willie Washington; second row: Patriots mended Brunson for assisting local veterans file for disability benefits Dave Nesbitt, Johnny Williams and Jesse Burand for keeping veterans up to date gess.
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with their benefit changes. Brunson, who has worked with Sumter County Veterans Affairs for nearly four years, said she was truly surprised to receive the honor from the order. “They are a very great group of guys,” she said. Brunson also has a military background and served six years in the South Carolina Air National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base. Before becoming the director of the local veterans affairs office, she worked in the county treasurer’s office. Brunson said the change of position was a good opportunity to help those who served the country honorably.
DEATHS, B5 Sylentia Robinson Martha V. Gordon Jesa H-184 Mary L. McDowell Edwin R. Bradley
Cynthia Ann Wilson Donald E. Johnston Alonzo Gregg Sylvia A. Avins
“It’s an honor to help all veterans,” she said. Don Kellum, public affairs officer for the Military Order of the Purple Heart, said Brunson has been a point person for the chapter as well as other veterans in the area. He said Brunson was also instrumental in coordinating this year’s Veterans Day events including a parade. Brunson said this is the first time there has been a Veterans Day parade in a number of years. She said the parade will begin at 11 a.m. and will go through Main Street. A public ceremony will start at 11 a.m. followed by a meet and greet during which the public and veterans will have the opportunity to interact.
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INSIDE
ANOTHER PRETTY DAY
3 SECTIONS, 28 PAGES VOL. 120, NO. 282
Mostly sunny and mild today with only a slight chance of rain; partly cloudy and cool tonight. HIGH 82, LOW 64
Classifieds B7 Comics B6 Lotteries A10
Opinion A9 Religion A7 Television A8