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South Carolina councilman, family members shot and killed

TEDDY GRANT

Updated October 12, 2022 at 7:46 PM·1 min read

PHOTO: Councilman James Dewitt II for the town of Atlantic Beach, S.C., is pictured in an undated official photo. (City of Atlantic Beach via WPDE)

PHOTO: Town Hall of Atlantic Beach, S.C., stands in a still from video from Oct. 11, 2022. (WPDE)

A man in South Carolina was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing three family members, including a local councilman, the Horry County Police Department said.

Police arrested Matthew Allen DeWitt, 25, on Monday regarding the triple shooting.

The suspect was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, online arrest records show.

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Horry police arrived at a home near Conway, South Carolina, on Sunday afternoon to investigate a death where they discovered the body of 52-year-old Natasha Stevens.

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Later that evening, police conducted a welfare check outside of Columbia, South Carolina, where they found two people with “apparent gunshot wounds,” the Horry Police Department said on Facebook.

Police identified the two people as Gloria DeWitt, 52, and James DeWitt, II, 52.

PHOTO: Town Hall of Atlantic Beach, S.C., stands in a still from video from Oct. 11, 2022. (WPDE)

According to the Town of Atlantic Beach website, James “Jim” DeWitt II served as a councilman for the Atlantic Beach community.

"The Town of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, community is shocked and deeply sadden by the deaths of Councilman Jim DeWitt and his family. The Town is fully cooperating with the investigations into this matter by the Horry and Richland County Sheriff Departments," Mayor Jake Evans said in a statement to ABC News. "We offer our condolences and deepest sympathy to the family."

Related video: Authorities find bodies of kidnapped California family in orchard

According to its website, the predominately Black town is known as the “Black Pearl” and was a refuge for African Americans in the area who faced discrimination in the 1930s.

South Carolina councilman, family members shot and killed originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

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