Sumter Co. deputies make a second arrest in Edgehill Rd. murder

SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a second suspect in connection with murder of Stephen Collins. Thursday Sumter County officials announced the arrest of Mala’Kiy Raphel Brooks of Lexington, South Carolina in connection with a 2022 shooting death.

According to authorities, July 8th, 2022 Collins was found dead at a home along Edgehill Road with multiple gunshot wounds. Sheriff Anthony Dennis says at the time of the shooting they announced that Elijah Keith Fleming and an accomplice, later determined to be Mala’Kiy Brooks went into Collins home sometime between July 7, and July 8  armed with guns with the intention of robbing him.

Authorities say once they were inside of the home, the duo shot Collins multiple times while he sat on his couch killing him.

Sumter Deputies say Thursday Brooks was charged with Burglary 1st Degree and the murder of Stephen Collins. He has been transported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center and is being held without bond.

Authorities say forensic evidence helped them link Brooks to the 2022 murder in addition to the fact that deputies say both Brooks and Fleming implicated themselves in the crime.

Sheriff Dennis released a brief statement concerning the arrests saying,

“This is another example that this office will continue to be committed to bringing closure to victims and their families by bringing all those responsible to justice.”

Sheriff Dennis says the case was successful due to the hard work of various agencies including the Sumter Police Department, The Sheriff’s Offices of Lee County, Kershaw County, Lexington County, Jasper County, and Beaufort County, South Carolina along with the Clayton County Georgia Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.