Beaufort man turned himself in, arrested Saturday in Burton murder, attempted murder

By Kacen Bayless

Updated July 25, 2021 1:18 PM

This story has been updated to reflect that the suspect is in custody.

A Beaufort man wanted for murder and attempted murder turned himself in Saturday night in Georgia and is being held there until a court hearing.

The shooting early Friday morning in Burton left one victim dead and another wounded, according to authorities.

Delmar Sanders, 29, is being held in Camden County, Ga., detention facility as a fugitive from justice, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Sunday. Sanders was wanted on three charges: murder, attempted Murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Officers responded to a report of gunshots just after 1:30 a.m. Friday near Stanley Farms and Laurel Bay Roads, according to the sheriff’s office. First responders transported an injured man and woman to Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

There, one of the victims, 29-year-old Deonne McLendon of Burton, died of his injuries, police said. The woman received treatment and was later released.

The two had been shot near the road, and the shooter left before deputies arrived, the sheriff’s office said.

After interviews with witnesses, police identified Sanders as the person who shot and killed McLendon and wounded the unidentified woman, according to Saturday’s release.

Investigators obtained search warrants for Sanders from a Beaufort County magistrate judge on Friday, according to the release.

Anyone with information on the shooting should contact Sergeant James Tunis at 843-255-3426 or Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111, if wishing to remain anonymous and for possible reward, the sheriff’s office said.

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The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances:

In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested
In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety
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This story was originally published July 24, 2021 at 1:29 PM.

Kacen Bayless

The Island Packet

(843) 560-9167

A reporter for The Island Packet covering projects and investigations, Kacen Bayless is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri with an emphasis in investigative reporting. In the past, he’s worked for St. Louis Magazine, the Columbia Missourian, KBIA and the Columbia Business Times. His work has garnered Missouri and South Carolina Press Association awards for investigative, enterprise, in-depth, health, growth and government reporting. He was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism in 2020.

When we publish mugshots

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