STATE: Sumter slave inspired controversial book, professor says A4
THE CLARENDON SUN: Alligator season begins Sept. 14
C1 VOL. 118, NO. 270 WWW.THEITEM.COM
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
FOUNDED OCTOBER 15, 1894
60 CENTS
Man arrested in double shooting BY ROBERT J. BAKER bbaker@theitem.com A 19-year-old Sumter man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in connection with a Saturday afternoon shooting on Dibert Street which left two people in serious but stable condition.
Trevaughn Ziontae Jackson, of 312 Hannah St., was arrested early Sunday morning at his home after the JACKSON Sumter Police Department said he was the man who allegedly shot a 30-year-old man and a
52-year-old woman at a home in the 1000 block of Dibert Street about 5 p.m. Saturday. Both victims received gunshot wounds in their upper torsos and were transported to Tuomey Regional Medical Center. They were later transported to Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia for additional treatment. A release
from the police department said they are in stable condition. “While detectives are still investigating the motive for the shooting, they believe an earlier altercation involving the male victim and others, including the suspect, may have led to the shooting,” the release reads.
On Sunday, Sumter County Magistrate George R. Gibson granted Jackson a $157,000 surety bond for the two charges. This is the second shooting on Dibert Street this year. An unidentified 19-year-old man told police he was shot about
Sheriff ’s Office set to get new vests
Inked and pierced Tattoo parlor owner opens piercing studio BY ROB COTTINGHAM rcottingham@theitem.com In today’s society, it’s all about self-expression. Whether it’s monograms or decals on rear car windows, Facebook, homemade clothing or a wild hair style, people strive to express their individuality. For some creative outlets, such as tattoos and piercings, it used to be difficult to find parlors and vendors in Sumter to accommodate those needs. Nowadays, it’s as easy as any other city, unless you’re looking for more eccentric piercings. Enter Donnie Lee “D.J.” McLeod Jr., owner of Southern Ink tattoo shop on Pinewood Road.
SEE SHOOTING, PAGE A8
BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com
McLeod has been doing tattoos for about seven years, but his passion for them started long before that. “Several years ago, I got my first tattoo,” he said. “I was hooked after that, driven by the artistic element of tattoos. I went into a shop in Gastonia, N.C., for another to fill out my sleeve and didn’t really know what I wanted. I walked in and just drew something really quick based on an idea I had. The tattoo artist liked what I drew and asked me, ‘You ever thought about being a tattoo artist?’ The rest just fell into place.” McLeod said he always enjoyed drawing SEE INKED & PIERCED, PAGE A6
ABOVE: A tattoo done at Southern Ink is seen recently. The shop is located on Pinewood Road. LEFT: April Overby, 16, closes her eyes as Modz piercer Carl Goodwin finishes the second half of her industrial piercing recently.
PHOTOS BY ROB COTTINGHAM / THE ITEM
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office personnel are about to get some new duds. In the next three months, 50 of the 146 bulletproof vests issued will be replaced. “To me, they are No. 1 on the priority list,” said Sheriff DENNIS Anthony Dennis. “My goal for my officers is to come to work and have the resources they need to do their job and go home safely.” While he has been fortunate not to be shot in his 31-year career, he has seen the value of vests up close. “I myself was in a shootout,” Dennis said. “It was when I was in the narcotics division. Me and another officer went to serve a warrant. He got shot twice. It saved his life.” This $35,000 purchase will bring all the vests back under warranty. If a vest is damaged in an altercation, it is replaced as long as it is under warranty, he said. While every deputy is issued a vest, he or she is not required to wear them, Dennis said, but it is highly recommended. They are required to carry them in their vehicle. “Most of them do wear the vests under their uniforms,” he said. “With the new styles that have come along, you can barely tell they are wearing them.”
Donnie “DJ” McLeod Jr. finishes up the first of two star tattoos on Brittany Huggins’ hips.
20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 29150 (USPS 525-900)
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SEE VESTS, PAGE A8
OUTSIDE CLOUDS AND SUN
DEATHS Norman A. Simon Sr. Brittany B. Stewart Donna L. Thackett Waddell H. Porcher Sr. Robin L. Williams
Margie J. Geddings Roosevelt Pearson Mary D. Joye Francis E. Alsbrooks Betty S. Blackmon
Lewis Hunter AJ Williams Henry A. Bilton Janie B. Ceasar
Showers possible this afternoon and tonight B5
HIGH: 92 LOW: 70 A8
INSIDE 3 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES
Classifieds Comics Daily Planner Opinion Sports Television
B8 B7 A8 A7 B1 B6