South Carolina officer dismissed for aiding son charged in Manning double murder

A Manning police officer was fired after allegedly helping his son, who faces double murder charges linked to a Dollar General parking lot shooting.

Manning officer dismissed after shielding son suspected in double killing

A South Carolina police officer has been terminated from the Manning Police Department after allegedly assisting his son, who stands charged in connection with the deaths of two men, foxcarolina.com reports.

Antwone Dukes, 22, was arrested on 6 October and charged over a shooting in a Dollar General parking lot in Sumter County. Authorities believe the incident stemmed from a planned armed robbery. Two men — Derek Parson, 19, and Keywaun Clark, 20 — died as a result. Clark was found dead after his vehicle struck a tree near the parking lot. Parson was transported to hospital, where he later died.

Antwone Dukes was also shot during the incident. Sumter County deputies said he drove himself and Parson to the home of his father, Alexander Dukes Sr., a former Sumter County sheriff's deputy who had since joined the Manning Police Department. Alexander Dukes applied a tourniquet to his son's leg and directed him to seek hospital treatment, but did not call 911, report the shooting to authorities, or request an ambulance.

An investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division subsequently uncovered incriminating text messages on Alexander Dukes's phone. Court filings quoted in part: "texts were found where officer Alexander Dukes Sr. was informing his children that he could no longer notify them of police activity such as roadblocks and traffic stops due to Sumter County encrypting their radio channel."

Alexander Dukes was suspended on 8 October after failing a polygraph examination. He has since been formally dismissed. The termination filing stated that his actions may have obstructed the criminal investigation and potentially delayed care that could have saved Parson's life. Manning police concluded that he "failed his duty and acted in a manner unbecoming of a police officer."

As of Friday evening, Alexander Dukes had not been criminally charged, though the investigation remains ongoing. His son, Antwone Dukes, remained held at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office Detention Center after being denied bond following his arrest.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)