Slain SC Deputy Was Columbus Native

Devin Mason (DCSO)

The deputy shot to death in Darlington County, S.C. early this morning was a Columbus County native.

Devin Mason, 27, graduated from West Columbus High School. He was originally from Evergreen.  Darlington County  Sheriff Michael August said in a press release that Mason began his law enforcement career with DCSO in 2024, and graduated from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy in March.

“He successfully completed his field training last week,” the news release said.

Deputies were called to the Lamar community in Darlington County around 1:30 a.m. after a report of a wanted fugitive being in the area, the S.C. Law Enforcement Division reported. Mason and another deputy were ambushed. The second deputy was transported to a hospital and is in stable condition.

The suspected shooter in the case, Cameron Ray Dennett, 25, was killed in an exchange of gunfire. Dennett was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning a firearm.  He was wanted for criminal conspiracy, forgery and “second degree computer” crimes.

Kirsten Porter, 28, was arrested at the scene. She faces the same charges, DCSO said. She was booked into the Darlington County Detention Center.

Mason graduated West Columbus High in 2017, and was previously a technician at Black’s Tire Service. He was a native of Evergreen. Mason wore the No. 15 jersey for West Columbus as a wide receiver, and played football in the 2014 through 2016 seasons.

WCHS Viking EndZone Club described Mason as a “model student athlete and an overall great person.” He and his fiancé had recently celebrated the birth of their first child. The family was making their home in Florence.

“I had the honor of coaching Devin mason while he was in high school,” Ethan Morris posted on Facebook. “He was a good kid and a good player and grew up to be an even better man.”

About Jefferson Weaver 3052 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at jeffersonweaver@ColumbusCountyNews.com.