Justice Served for KFC Murder Victim

Columbia, SC - 25-yr old Steven Pierre Duckett of Eastover, SC was found dead on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 in the driver's seat of a Chevrolet Tahoe. Employees of the Kentucky Fried Chicken at 2349 Taylor St found him in the drive-thru lane when they arrived for work and immediately notified police. When police officers arrived, it was determined that Duckett was deceased. Later, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts determined that death was due to a fatal shot to the head, and the Columbia Police Department began investigating the death as a homicide.

The murder made quite a stir in the local news, and the Crimestoppers tip line was set up for anyone with information to call in.

Three men were arrested and charged in Duckett's murder. 19-yr old Victor Antonio White was arrested by Columbia Police, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's (SLED) Fugitive Team and Cayce Department of Public Safety on Thursday morning, February 11th. 19-yr old Reginald Miller was arrested by Benedict College Campus Police the same afternoon. And 18-yr old Demond M. Sanford was arrested Wednesday, February 12th by Benedict College Campus Police Department. The three were charged with murder and armed robbery.

Miller, White and Sanford are currently being held at Richland County's Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia, SC.

Columbia Police Chief Tandy Carter credits the arrest of these individuals to a helpful community. Carter, a long time advocate of close relations between the community and the Department said, "[w]e as citizens of Columbia are all effected by crimes in one way or another and by providing information directly to law enforcement or through Crimestoppers, as in this case, it shows that the partnership between law enforcement and the community is strong".

The Columbia Police Department, having adopted the slogan "The Positive Difference", has been a leader in making the concept of community policing a reality. Chief Carter, and the Department, believe that the citizens of Columbia, and its surrounding communities, are a vital ally in the war against crime.

Sources
WTLX-TV, wtlx.com
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=83658

Columbia Police Department News Room
http://www.columbiapd.com/news.htm