Arrest Made In Domestic Dispute Leading To Schools Lockdown

 In Local News

UPDATE:  February 15, 2023 at 8:30 AM

Sheriff Foster identifies the suspect from yesterday’s incident as 35-year-old Demenous Quinard Bookman.

Bookman is being held at the Newberry County Detention Center on pending charges of Attempted Murder, Breach of Peace of a High and Aggravated Nature, Pointing and Presenting a Firearm, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Once the warrants are served on Bookman, he will go before a Newberry County Magistrate for a Bond Hearing.

Bookman has a criminal history of convictions for Assault and Battery 3rd Degree 03/12/2014, Shoplifting 02/16/2015, Assault and Battery 2nd Degree 10/09/2017, Domestic Violence 3rd Degree 11/18/2019, and Domestic Violence 2nd Degree 03/03/2020.

Original story: At 1:21 pm on Tuesday a domestic issue involving a firearm at the intersection of Candy Kitchen Road and US 76 prompted a lock down at Mid Carolina High/Middle Schools and Prosperity Rikard Elementary.

Two people were involved in a domestic dispute, as the male partner pulled out a long gun and fired. That suspect fled into the woods. Area schools were put on alert. ‘

As the Sheriff’s Office tracking team was running a track, a citizen reported seeing a suspect matching the description on Wessinger Drive in Prosperity. The schools were put on lock down at this point.

The tracking team went immediately to that location and found the suspect in a wooded area. The schools resumed normal operations at approximately 2:00 pm. No one was injured in this event and the schools performed beyond expectations.

Sheriff Foster said “We are sorry we had to go through a lock down and concern students, parents and teachers. However, poor choices on the suspect’s part prompted us to take preventative measures.”

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available to WKDK.