Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) - After an eight-day search, law enforcement has arrested a suspect who was accused of shooting at U.S. Marshals in Orangeburg over a week ago.
Officers too 18-year-old Derian James into custody around 2 p.m. Friday at a home in Eutawville.
“This was a great, great effort by Marshals, deputies, and SLED agents,” Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said in a statement. “I know for a fact this community will sleep safer tonight because of this apprehension.”
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. Officers say James, who was also at the home, then began firing at officers.
No officers were hit by gunfire.
After a search in the area that lasted several hours, and briefly triggered a campus alert at nearby South Carolina State University. Hampton was caught hours later, but James got away.
Officers say they developed information that led them to several locations Friday where he may have been hiding.
It's unclear at this time if James' arrest is related to a situation that happened on Magnolia Street Friday morning. There was a heavy law enforcement presence there, with armed officers in tactical positions and pointing their guns at the home.
After about two hours, officers left the location abruptly, but did not appear to take anyone into custody.
Meanwhile, deputies also continue to look for 20-year-old Curtis Ray Green. The murder suspect is accused of breaking out of the Orangeburg County jail last weekend. Two other men who broke out with him were already arrested.
Anyone who sees Green is asked to call 911.
