By Betsy Finklea
Four Dillon County men have been charged in connection with a murder in Marion County on April 13th.
Charged with murder, four counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and discharging a firearm into a dwelling are:
—Willie O’Brian Bethea, age 25, Latta
—Blaton Wakeem Smith, age 20, Latta
—Shaheed Hayes, age 21, Latta
—Jamie Williams, age 17, Dillon
Smith and Bethea were arrested on April 30th. Hayes and Williams were arrested on May 1st. Bethea, Smith, and Williams are at the Marion County Detention Center while Hayes is at the Dillon County Detention Center.
Smith was listed as the victim in the shooting/attempted murder that occurred in downtown Latta on Mauldin Street last Thursday.
Hayes was arrested in connection with a shooting at Henry Street Park in Latta that occurred on April 20th.
Participating in this investigation were the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Latta Police Department, the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, and SLED.