Manhunt continues for deputy’s killer

An all out man hunt for a sheriff's deputys killer. Early this morning, the Colleton County Sheriff's Office 911 Center received a call from the alarm company advising that a burglar alarm had been activated at 699 Sunflower Rd. near Smoaks, South Carolina in Colleton County. Deputy Dennis Compton responded to the scene and several minutes later the son of the home owner called across the deputy's portable radio saying the deputy had been shot. The residence had been unoccupied at the time and the home owner's son had received a call from the alarm company and he also responded to the residence where he found the deputy down with a gunshot wound. The suspect or suspects were not on scene and are currently at large. The area is being searched by the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, SLED, SCHP and surrounding law enforcement agencies that had responded to the area to assist.

Officer Compton has been a certified officer with the Colleton County Sheriff's Office for sixteen months. He started on June 12, 2006 at the Colleton County Detention Center as a Detention Center Officer.

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