CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — The Chester County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect in a Chester County murder investigation has been taken into custody.
The sheriff's office obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect in a gun-related murder that took place Sept. 12 in an area off of Old Winnsboro Road in the Great Falls area of Chester County. The warrant names 25-year-old Zykerrion Jamal White, charging him with murder.
On Sept. 18, the sheriff's office confirmed White was in custody.
White was considered to be armed and dangerous, according to the sheriff's office.
“He is a dangerous and violent fugitive and so I need our community and surrounding county to know we are doing every effort possible to secure his capture," Sheriff Max Dorsey said.
He added White shot someone after an argument where several people were gathered together.
"An argument ensued and it resulted in Mr. White firing his weapon and hitting one of the people there who was pronounced dead by the Chester County coroner," Dorsey said.
The victim was identified as 26-year-old Jamiree Datravious McCrorey by the coroner's office.
"They were an acquaintance of one other and so were the other witnesses," Dorsey said. "I don't know of any familial relationship… we were told that they were cousins but that has not been positively confirmed."
A statement from the sheriff's office said White was out of jail on bond when the murder took place.
White had previously been arrested in Lancaster County for charges of attempted murder, discharging a firearm into a dwelling and aggravated assault and battery.
After being released on bond in May 2022, White has been free but monitored by an electronic ankle device.
"He did have the monitoring on him when he committed the crime and he was able to remove it within minutes," Dorsey said. "It is frustrating for these men and women who are putting their lives on the line every day, locking people who are committing crimes of violence and seeing them released out on bond shortly thereafter."
Dorsey is calling for a change to the bond process.
“We need to take a serious look at our bond reform laws,” Dorsey said. “We have some new legislation that recently passed but I think there is more work that needs to be done.”
In June, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed into law a reform bill to make it harder for accused repeat offenders to bond out while they are out awaiting trial. For example, offenders would be required to pay any new bond in full and in cash.
Attorney Lacey Thompson, who is not connected to either case of White's, said his initial bond is now also revoked.
“His initial bond on the assault and battery of a high-and-aggravated-nature, the attempted murders are now revoked by law, and then that will have to be reviewed by a circuit court judge as to whether or not he can get a new bond on those charges, as well as whether or not he will be eligible for a full cash bond on the murder," Thompson explained.
Dorsey said he wants to see even stricter measures.
“The public, the law-abiding citizens of the state they deserve better,” Dorsey said. “We just want to keep the community safe, and we cannot do that when we make good cases lock bad guys up, and see them released.”
The Chester County Sheriff's Office said White is being held in the Chester County Detention Center.
Note: WCNC instituted a policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
WCNC Charlotte is choosing to show the mugshot of the suspect in this case because of the severity of the crime.