Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) — A $2,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a man who U.S. marshals say shot at law enforcement officers in Orangeburg last week.
Derian James, 18, of Orangeburg is wanted after officials say he fired shots at U.S. Marshals and Orangeburg County deputies as they attempted to serve a warrant in Orangeburg last week.
Officials say U.S. Marshals and Orangeburg deputies attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Najquan Hampton on Coleman Street around 6 a.m. on May 17. "As soon as they stepped away from their vehicles, they immediately began to receive gunfire from Derian James," says U.S. Marshal Tom Griffin.
After a search in the area that lasted several hours, the other suspect was caught. James, however, remains at large. No one was injured but the exchange triggered a campus alert at South Carolina State University Thursday morning.
In an unrelated news conference Wednesday, Griffin spoke about the search for James as well as an inmate who escaped from the the Orangeburg County Detention Center on Saturday.
"At a time and place of our choosing, these two individuals are going to be met with an overwhelming presence of law enforcement," he said. "When this occurs, they will have an option of surrendering peacefully or, based omn their decision, it could end very badly."
Griffin went on to encourage friends and family members to urge them to turn themselves in. "Our goal is a safe and uneventful outcome."
Derian James is described as an African-American man with brown eyes and black hair who stands standing 5'7" and weighs about 120 lbs.
If you think you see Derian James or have any information as to his whereabouts, deputies ask you to contact the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office immediately at (803) 534-3550 OR contact Crimestoppers anonymously in any of the following ways:
- Call 888-CRIME-SC (888-274-6372).
- Use the P3 Tips mobile app.
- LOG ON to www.midlandscrimestoppers.com, and click on the red “Submit a Tip” tab.
Callers will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.
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