Lawsuit alleges illegal gun purchase led to Darlington deputy’s death

Darlington Co., S.C. (WPDE)–A lawsuit filed this week alleges an illegal gun purchase led to the shooting death of a Darlington County deputy last July.

The lawsuit names Kristen Porter and Academy Sports + Outdoor. It claims Academy sold multiple firearms to Porter while she was acting as a straw purchaser for convicted felon Cameron Dennett, who was her boyfriend.

A straw purchase is the act of buying something, typically a gun, for someone who is prohibited from doing so.

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Deputy Devin Mason, 27, died during what the lawsuit describes as an ambush attack by Dennett. Dennett died in return fire.

Porter and Dennett’s mother, Linda Dennett, was arrested at the scene. Linda Dennett later died at a North Carolina assisted living facility in October.