On a seemingly ordinary Thursday afternoon in Sumter, South Carolina, the quiet hum of daily life was shattered by gunfire outside the Valero convenience store on Broad Street. The date was August 7, 2025, and what began as a heated argument spiraled into a violent confrontation, leaving two people wounded and a community on edge. At the center of this chaos is 38-year-old Davon Antonio Ladson, now the target of an urgent manhunt after allegedly opening fire and fleeing the scene.
The incident unfolded just before 4:45 p.m., when Sumter Police Department officers raced to the Valero gas station following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found a grim scene: a 42-year-old bystander, Angela Morris, was suffering from a gunshot wound. Morris, an innocent shopper who had simply been entering the store at the wrong moment, was struck by a stray bullet. As officers worked to secure the area and provide aid, they learned that another victim, 31-year-old Terrance Jamal Wright, had arrived at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital with a gunshot wound of his own. Wright, a Sumter resident, was the intended target of the shooting, caught in a dispute that turned deadly.
According to witnesses, the violence erupted from a heated altercation between Ladson and Wright. What sparked the argument remains unclear, but police say Ladson allegedly pulled a firearm and opened fire, striking both Wright and the unsuspecting Morris. The shots rang out in broad daylight, sending panic through the busy convenience store as customers and employees scrambled for safety. Both victims, thankfully, are expected to recover, but the scars of this brazen act linger in the community.
Davon Antonio Ladson, a resident of Highland Avenue, fled the scene before police could apprehend him, leaving behind a trail of fear and unanswered questions. Described as armed and dangerous, Ladson is now the focus of an intense search led by the Sumter Police Department. Chief Russell F. Roark III, a veteran leader of the force, addressed the public with a somber yet resolute tone. “We are doing everything we can to locate Mr. Ladson and bring him into custody safely,” he said. “We’re also asking the public to help by reporting any sightings or information about his whereabouts.” The urgency in his words underscored the gravity of the situation: a suspect on the loose, potentially armed, and a threat to public safety.
The Sumter Police Department has issued a stark warning to the public: do not approach Ladson under any circumstances. Instead, they urge anyone who spots him or knows his whereabouts to contact them immediately at 803-436-2700 or dial 911 in an emergency. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC or online at www.p3tips.com. Every piece of information, no matter how small, could be the key to bringing this fugitive to justice.
As the manhunt stretches into its early hours, the people of Sumter are left grappling with the shock of violence in a place as ordinary as a gas station. The Valero on Broad Street, a hub for locals grabbing snacks or filling up their tanks, is now a crime scene etched into the community’s memory. For Angela Morris, an unintended victim caught in the crossfire, and Terrance Wright, whose argument turned life-threatening, the road to recovery will be both physical and emotional. For the city of Sumter, the search for Davon Antonio Ladson is a race against time, a call for vigilance, and a reminder of the fragility of peace in everyday spaces.
The police continue their relentless pursuit, combing through leads and rallying the community’s support. As Chief Roark emphasized, this is a collective effort—one that hinges on the eyes and ears of Sumter’s residents. Will Ladson be found before he strikes again? The answer lies in the hands of a community united, determined to reclaim its sense of safety.
