By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Satterwhite
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_user20581-1440589526-media11.jpgSatterwhite

NEWBERRY COUNTY — Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster credited thorough investigative work — by his department and several assisting agencies — as the driving force behind the arrest of the fourth person involved in the July shooting death of a Little Mountain man.

DeCarolos Tramaine Satterwhite, 21, of 7403 Patricia Drive in Columbia, was arrested Aug. 26 and charged with four counts of armed robbery, three counts of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count each of murder, first-degree burglary, criminal conspiracy and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Ronnion Danyell Barron, 32, of Ponderosa Lane in Little Mountain, was shot and killed after someone knocked on the door of his mobile home shortly after midnight July 29.

“It was the invaluable assistance and partnership of the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, along with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Columbia Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department that has ensured the execution of superb investigative work,” said Foster. “Working with these agencies, their department heads, and having these kinds of resources available to you at your request, makes doing the job worthwhile.”

Satterwhite is the third person to be arrested in the investigation. Jermaz James Dreher, 16, and Tyler Mckenzie Elkins, 21, were arrested earlier this month and Keon Kelly, 21, killed himself after a stand off with police.

“It took a while to get Satterwhite’s exact name. All we had was his street name Tra,” said Foster. “Once we got his name, it took a while to get the intelligence of where he was living at the time.”

The motive behind the murder has not been determined but Foster said Barron and Satterwhite were acquainted. The depth of that relationship is unknown.

“Some of those involved were members of a gang, including the suspect that killed himself,” Foster said. “At the present time it is believed that the deceased suspect (Kelly) pulled the trigger.”

The investigation showed that when Barron pulled back a curtain over the door’s window, he was shot through the glass. A second resident ran to the back of the mobile home and hid between a mattress and the wall. That resident reported hearing more gunshots and the home being ransacked.

As the four suspects were leaving the mobile home, they encountered two people approaching the mobile home. The two managed to escape in their vehicle while being shot at and fled to a home nearby. The four suspects then left the area and fled toward Lexington County in a dark colored four-door vehicle.

Satterwhite is in custody at the Newberry County Detention Center awaiting bonding. The three suspects are being held at different facilities. Dreher is being held at a juvenile facility due to his age.

“We have kept them separated to make sure they do not have contact with each other, and to cut down on any mischief,” Foster said.

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.