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Ravon Lamar Harris

Age : 17

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 08/27/2023

Location : U.S. Highway 521 South near Mulberry Church Road

City : Sumter County

County : Sumter

State : South Carolina

Agency : Sumter County Sheriff’s Office; Sumter Police Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash following attempted stop after reported armed altercation

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/25/2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Sumter Police Department officers responded to a disturbance at the Red Lobster on Broad Street in Sumter. Investigators said the incident began as an altercation over a social-media post. Police alleged that an unidentified 16-year-old punched an employee and displayed a handgun before leaving in a silver 2014 Cadillac CTS driven by 17-year-old Ravon Lamar Harris, a Sumter High School student.
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Police subsequently located the Cadillac near Old Pocalla Road and Manning Road. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office was asked to assist Sumter police in stopping the vehicle because police believed it was connected to the reported armed altercation at the restaurant.
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During the attempted traffic stop, police alleged that the 16-year-old passenger exited the Cadillac carrying a handgun and ran from officers. Harris remained behind the wheel and continued driving away. A Sumter County sheriff’s deputy pursued Harris with emergency lights and siren activated.
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The pursuit continued south on Manning Road and then onto U.S. Highway 521 South. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Harris reached speeds exceeding 100 mph.
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Near Mulberry Church Road, Harris lost control of the Cadillac. The vehicle struck an embankment, overturned multiple times and caught fire. The pursuing deputy stopped at the crash, requested EMS and fire personnel and used emergency equipment to extinguish the burning vehicle.
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Harris suffered critical injuries in the crash and was airlifted to Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia. He remained hospitalized for approximately two days before dying from his injuries on Sunday, 08/27/2023. Sumter County Coroner Robbie Baker identified him following his death.
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The coroner reported that Harris was not wearing a seat belt. An autopsy was scheduled at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Sumter County Coroner’s Office investigated the fatal crash.
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Police apprehended the 16-year-old passenger after he ran from the attempted traffic stop. Authorities alleged that five handguns were ultimately recovered in connection with the teenagers and that several had been reported stolen during vehicle break-ins in Sumter city and county the previous night. The passenger faced charges arising from the restaurant incident, weapons possession and his flight from police.
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Harris was born on 03/02/2006 and was the son of Richard Harris and Lateasha Lawson Harris. He died on 08/27/2023. His funeral was held on September 2 at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, followed by burial at Evergreen Memorial Park.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Sumter County sheriff’s deputy who pursued Harris at speeds exceeding 100 mph has not been publicly identified in the reporting located for this update.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/street-squad/sumter/teen-dies-friday-police-pursuit-sumter-county/101-b215d76b-3ae2-482b-a27c-15c3cf05bf9e
https://www.wistv.com/2023/08/28/sumter-county-coroner-identifies-teen-who-died-single-vehicle-accident-following-pursuit/
https://www.wistv.com/2023/08/29/sumter-county-coroner-identifies-teen-who-died-car-crash-after-altercation-over-social-media-post/
https://www.kwch.com/video/2023/08/29/name-teen-killed-crash-after-police-chase-released/
https://www.abccolumbia.com/2023/08/28/deputies-teen-identified-after-a-high-speed-chase-in-sumter-county/
https://www.jobsmortuary.net/obituaries/ravon-harris