A Sumter man on the run since September after shooting at local police was killed Friday morning in a shootout that killed a U.S. Marshal in Georgia.
Dontrell Montese Carter died in Long County, Georgia, after marshals attempted to execute an arrest warrant on the suspect, who evaded Sumter County deputies after a call of a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend in mid-September.
The Sumter Sheriff's Office, the Sumter Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service continued a search for Carter since Sept. 18, when Carter shot at deputies during a chase after the domestic incident.
The Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force attempted to execute a warrant Friday for Carter's arrest after he was located in a singlewide mobile home near the 11800 block of Tibit Drive near Ludowici, Georgia, authorities said.
Task Force Deputy Commander Patrick Carothers, 53, received two fatal gunshot wounds when the team entered the home, authorities noted. The marshal was transported to Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, Georgia, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Carter was shot multiple times in the melee. He was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah.
“Our deputies and law enforcement partners face dangers every day in the pursuit of justice nationwide,” said U.S. Marshals Service Deputy Director David Harlow. “The fugitive who killed Deputy Commander Carothers was extremely dangerous, wanted for trying to kill law enforcement officers and deliberately evading authorities. Pat is a hero, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and five children.”
Carothers was a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Marshals Service and had served as deputy commander for more than a year, according to the release.
Carter had boasted, according to Sumter deputies, that he planned to have another shootout with law enforcement should officers attempt to arrest him.
Sumter Sheriff Anthony Dennis offered his condolences to Carothers' family.
"The men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service work very hard to keep all of us safe," Dennis said. "Patrick Carothers was a father to five children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
