News Bites Across South Carolina

SC Highway Patrol Trooper First Class Dennis D. Ricks Laid to Rest
COLUMBIA SC - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety mourned the death of South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper First Class Dennis D. Ricks as he was laid to rest Wednesday, August 20, 2025 in Columbia. The funeral services were held at Shandon Baptist Church.
TFC Ricks died on August 13, nearly four days after being struck by a vehicle while performing a traffic stop in Orangeburg County. He is the 52nd Highway Patrol trooper to lose his life while serving the state of South Carolina.
“It is with heavy hearts that we gather today to remember our friend and trooper, Trooper First Class Dennis Ricks,” SCDPS Director Robert G. Woods IV said. “Ricks passing is a tragic loss for his family, his friends, and the law enforcement community as a whole. We are humbly grateful for the opportunity to come together today with those closest to him to remember his life and honor his service.”
Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Dennis had a heart for service and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. He graduated from West Florence High School in Florence, SC, and went on to attend Florence-Darlington Technical College and the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He began his career with the Highway Patrol in 2023 and was assigned to SC Highway Patrol Troop 7, Post B, where he patrolled the highways of Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.
Along with hundreds of law enforcement officers and first responders from South Carolina, troopers from several Highway Patrols from as far away as California came to pay their respects.
SC Highway Patrol Colonel Christopher Williamson addressed the attendees with a reminder of Ricks’ service and sacrifice:
“Today’s ceremony is a solemn reminder that this job is marked by sacrifice. Whether big or small, these sacrifices begin the day we put on this uniform. Trooper First Class Ricks knew that and yet, he woke up every day and answered the call to serve so that he could make a better life for himself, his family, and his community. Although we can never repay him for his service, we hope those of you with us today take some comfort that we will always remember and honor him.”
Ricks is survived by his loving wife, Jade Michelle Riley Ricks; his mother, Dr. Traesa Brown; his grandparents, Bonnie David and Barbara Brown; his parents-in-law, Amanda Brayboy and Michael Riley; his brother-in-law, Bryce Brayboy; his sister-in-laws, McKenzie Brayboy and Nayeli Mondragon; and his niece, Noelani "Noel" Brayboy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made through the online memorial fund established by Serve and Connect. As of the release of this statement, more than $36,000 has been raised to support the Ricks family.

NETC Building Brighter Futures
NETC is proud to celebrate a powerful partnership with Marlboro County School District that is opening new doors for students at Marlboro County High School.
Through this collaboration, CTE and Early College students are learning in a state-of-the-art facility on our Marlboro Campus. With access to hands-on training, advanced resources, and real college-level experiences, they are gaining the skills needed for success in both higher education and the workforce.
This is only the beginning, and we are proud to support these students as they take bold steps toward their goals.

Johnsonville Teenager Fatally Shot Due to Teen Love Triangle
A 16-year-old Johnsonville, SC boy was allegedly lured to his death and fatally shot over a romantic rivalry — and now authorities have arrested nine teenagers, including his girlfriend, in connection with his death, authorities said. One of the teens who was present at the scene allegedly filmed Trey Dean Wright, 16, of Johnsonville, getting shot, police said.
The alleged crime came to light on June 24, at about 11:30 p.m., when Florence County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call about a shooting on First Neck Road near Johnsonville. There, they found Wright lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds, the FCSO said in a June 26 release. Wright was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
On June 25, deputies arrested Devan Raper, 19, of Conway, on suspicion of shooting and killing Wright during a verbal altercation in Johnsonville, which is about 50 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, according to the sheriff’s office. Raper is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, the sheriff’s office said in the release.
On June 30, deputies arrested a second suspect, Gianna Helene Kistenmacher, 17, of Myrtle Beach and charged her with accessory before the fact of a felony, the sheriff’s office said in a June 30 release. Investigators accused Kistenmacher of bringing Wright, who is believed to be her boyfriend, to a desolate section of First Neck Road “knowing that Raper was armed and that there would be a confrontation for violence likely to lead to death based on statements made in her presence,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.
Sheriff T.J. Joye said the two teens "had issues with each other, and it was over a female," Joye said, News 13 reports. "The sad thing is, you got a 16-year-old that lost his life. You’ve got a 19-year-old who is going to be in jail the rest of his life. Over what?"
On Aug. 3, three other teens were arrested and charged in connection to the fatal shooting.
Hunter Matthew Kendall, 18, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested and charged with murder, according to online jail records.
Corrinne Elizabeth Belviso, 18, and Sydney Marissa Kearns, 17, also from Myrtle Beach, were also arrested on Aug. 3 and charged with murder, according to the FCSO, ABC 15, WMBF and News 13 report.
Four other suspects were arrested but their names have not been released because they are minors, News 13 reports.
“They were complicit in bringing the armed codefendant, Raper to the incident location and knowing that there would be a confrontation,” Maj. Michael Nunn with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office alleged, News 13 reports. “They knew that Raper had presented a firearm to the victim and made threats to shoot him, according to the arrest warrants.”
Nunn told the Post and Courier that under state law, all five are charged as adults.
Raper and Kendall remain held without bond at the Florence County Detention Center, according to online jail records.
Kistenmacher was granted bond and released on home confinement.
Belviso and Kearns each posted $20,000 surety bonds and were released pending a trial, Fox4 News reports.
It is unclear whether Raper, Kendall, and the other teens have retained attorneys who can speak on their behalf.

Cyber Attacks Escalating in Spartanburg County Government
Officials in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, said the county recently experienced a cyberattack that prompted an immediate investigation.
According to officials, it was determined that a limited number of personnel onboarding files containing county employee information were accessed. While most of these files are publicly disclosable, some include individuals’ personally identifiable information.
A spokesperson for Spartanburg County said, "We take this matter extremely seriously and understand the concern it may cause, as we are committed to safeguarding all information in our care. Out of an abundance of caution, we are offering complimentary credit monitoring services to all County employees, regardless of whether their information was affected." The spokesperson added that the county is committed to enhancing security and implementing additional measures to prevent another attack.

Charleston Man Sues Uber for Alleged Assault
An assault caught on camera shows a Charleston man getting headbutted and punched in a parking lot on King Street. Bryan Kobel says he was assaulted by a man he claims was his Uber driver. Now, he is seeking justice.
Police say this incident happened on April 24, and the victim has filed a lawsuit against Uber and the driver, Vadim Uliumdzhiev, who was here illegally from Russia. The assault happened in broad daylight, when Kobel says he ordered his Uber after dinner, not knowing what would happen next. The video shows Kobel unconscious after he was punched in the head. Kobel says he was taken to the hospital, suffering brain injuries and amnesia.
In the new lawsuit, Kobel claims this was because his Uber driver refused to take them with his service dog. When Kobel left the car, he claims he asked the driver to cancel the ride, and the situation escalated. “I moved on, I didn’t really think anything of it. I reminded him as I was leaving to cancel the ride. That’s really the last of my memory, to be honest with you. The next 48 hours is kind of non-existent. You know it was a pretty terrifying situation,” Kobel said.
He said after he got out of the hospital, he saw his Uber app had since been deactivated, which he says points to a bigger call to action for more background checks for those using rideshares.
The suit says law enforcement told the man that the driver was using a fake driver’s license. To Kobel and his attorney, Kenneth Berger, he said, knowing this could have been prevented, this points to a bigger call to action for deeper background checks.
Uliumdzhiev has been charged with second-degree assault and battery, with a second court appearance scheduled in October.

Bishopville Teen, 13, Charged Following Apartment Complex Shooting
A 13-year-old is incarcerated following a recent shooting in South Carolina that left a victim seriously injured, according to the Bishopville Police Department. 
The teen shooting suspect, who was not publicly identified because of their age, was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful possession of a weapon, police said Tuesday in a news release.
The charges are connected to an Aug. 15 shooting at Woodside Apartments, according to the release. That’s in the 200 block of Roland Street, in a part of Lee County that’s near Exit 116 on Interstate 20. 
Officers who responded to the shooting at the apartment complex found a victim who was seriously injured, police said. The victim was taken to an area hospital, but further information on their condition was not available. No other injuries were reported. An investigation led police to charge the 13-year-old, who is being held at a South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Columbia, according to the release.
Information about a motive for the shooting is not yet available. Despite the charges, the shooting continues to be investigated by police. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at 803-484-5309, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.