Mala’Kiy Raphel Brooks, 20, from Lexington, has been charged with murder and first-degree burglary in connection to the 2022 death of 81-year-old Stephen Collins. Collins was found dead at his home on Edgehill Road on July 8, 2022, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Initially, Elijah Keith Fleming had been arrested and charged in connection with Collins’ murder. Authorities reported that Fleming, along with an accomplice, broke into Collins’ home between July 7 and July 8, 2022, with the intent to steal. After entering, the suspects shot Collins while he was seated on his couch, resulting in his death. Fleming is also facing charges for another murder in Clayton County, Georgia.
The investigation into the case remained open until this week, when authorities identified Brooks as the second suspect. Forensic evidence linked him directly to the crime.
Sheriff Anthony Dennis expressed gratitude to the various agencies involved in the case, including the Sumter Police Department and law enforcement agencies from several counties, as well as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Clayton County Georgia Sheriff’s Office.
