SUMTER, South Carolina – A tragic shooting on Saturday left a pregnant woman dead, her infant child hospitalized, and another person injured, prompting a manhunt led by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis condemned the shooting as “a heinous crime” following the death of 33-year-old Sumter resident Jennifer Marie Cruz, who was reportedly 35 weeks pregnant when she succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds at Prisma Health Tuomey.
While Cruz tragically passed away, her unborn child was successfully delivered and transported to a hospital in Columbia, where they remain in critical condition. Another individual was also shot during the incident, with their injuries deemed non-life-threatening.
Authorities disclosed that the victims arrived at a Sumter hospital early on Saturday morning, revealing that the shooting occurred in the 1700 block of North Main Street. Witnesses identified the shooter as Troy Wells, an acquaintance of the victims, who reportedly fired upon their vehicle upon their arrival at a local motel.
Sheriff Dennis expressed concerns that Wells was aware of Cruz’s pregnancy, labeling the attack as “callous and cold-blooded.” Wells now faces charges of murder and attempted murder, with law enforcement urging the public to approach him with caution and to report any sightings immediately by calling 911.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the shooting, in collaboration with the coroner’s office. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, as authorities seek any additional information regarding Wells or the incident itself.
In light of this tragic event, the Sumter community remains unsettled as they grapple with the aftermath of such senseless violence.