Sumter, SC – A Sumter man has been arrested in connection with the county’s first Fentanyl-Induced Homicide case, authorities announced Monday.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, 35-year-old Thomas Justin Barwick was taken into custody on December 3 after deputies executed a search warrant at a residence on Wen Le Drive. Investigators say the arrest followed a narcotics probe that uncovered evidence linking Barwick to the sale of drugs that allegedly caused a man’s death.
Deputies say William Karl Joseph Myers, 62, died as a result of ingesting fentanyl allegedly obtained from Barwick. The discovery led to multiple charges, including Manufacture and Distribution of Cocaine Base, Trafficking in Fentanyl, and Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime.
The Sheriff’s Office noted this is the first time Sumter County has filed a homicide charge under South Carolina’s Section 16-3-80, which allows suspects who allegedly provide fentanyl leading to a death to be prosecuted for Fentanyl-Induced Homicide.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis thanked state lawmakers for granting local authorities the legal tools to pursue such cases, calling it “a major step forward in the fight against deadly narcotics.”
Barwick remains in custody awaiting a bond hearing.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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