A murder suspect is dead after a shootout with deputies in the Midlands, late last week. A deputy with the Richland County Sheriff's Department tried stopping a vehicle on Leesburg Road in Columbia, last Thursday afternoon.
The suspect driver then led deputies on a short chase before crashing the vehicle. Deputies identified the suspect as 20 year old Ja'Sean Fritz. He was wanted for murder and other charges after a deadly shooting in Orangeburg County, last month. Sheriff Leon Lott says, Fritz opened fire on deputies which led to the shootout that left him dead.
Three other suspects were found in the woods nearby. They are all charged with weapons violations and marijuana possession.
Sheriff Leon Lott said" It’s the same old sad story I have to get up here and talk about: kids with guns that end up in jail or end up in the cemetery. We have to do something as a community to stop this."
