October 5, 2017
THREE SUSPECTS IN PAMPLICO SHOOTING ARE IN CUSTODY
SUBJECT: Zafir Abdul Bethea, age 22, of 715 Harden Road, Pamplico, SC 29583 was arrested on October 5, 2017 and charged with one count of Murder (S.C. Code Ann. 16-03-010) and one count of Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime (S.C. Code Ann. 16-23-490). See FCSO Booking Website for additional information.
SUBJECT: Rymir Jamal Steven, age 18, of 2105 South Woodstock Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was arrested on October 5, 2017 and charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact of a Felony (S.C. Code Ann. 16-01-055). See FCSO Booking Website for additional information.
SUBJECT: Ricky Hyseem Smith, age 33, of 2105 South Woodstock Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was arrested on October 5, 2017 and charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact of a Felony (S.C. Code Ann. 16-01-055). See FCSO Booking Website for additional information.
NARRATIVE: Three suspects wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Pamplico, SC on October 1, 2017 are in custody. Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the FBI, working in conjunction with Florence County Sheriff’s Office investigators apprehended Zafir Abdul Bethea, Rymir Jamal Steven and Ricky Hyseem Smith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earlier today. Investigators allege that Bethea shot and killed Ellie Becote on Main Street in Pamplico, SC. Investigators further allege that Steven and Smith assisted Bethea after the shooting and fled with him to Philadelphia.
“We sincerely appreciate the great efforts of our Federal partners in apprehending these suspects,” Sheriff Kenney Boone stated.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing and additional charges and/or arrests are possible.
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Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.
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