UPDATE: Arrests made in Aiken murder

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By Navideh Forghani nforghani@nbcaugusta.com

Story Published: Nov 26, 2009 at 11:14 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 26, 2009 at 6:24 PM EST

AIKEN, S.C. - Aiken County investigators have arrested three people in connection to the murder of an Aiken man.

Investigators were called out to Green Road in Aiken after a driver found a man shot several times on the side of the road. Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton tells 26 News Donald Hickman died at the hospital.

Deputies arrested and charged Derrick Valentine, Kristopher Allard Reichardt, and Michael Gary Smith, Jr. with murder, armed robbery, and conspiracy to possess marijuana. Smith is at the Richmond County jail awaiting extradition.

Investigators are not releasing what lead to Hickman’s death.

 


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Friday, Dec 4 at 3:24 PM Anonymous wrote ...

dis and ova???

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Saturday, Nov 28 at 7:30 PM Unknown wrote ...

I know all 4 of them. They all were close friends but something went down a week before all dis went down. That's why i tell people it was'nt ova drugs

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Friday, Nov 27 at 8:52 AM me wrote ...

also how do you calll it murder when the person that gets shot shoots back in defense? when they try to flee police (and never run them over) and are fleeing they get killed after passing the cops. cops get paid leave and NEVER charged. cops dont get injured and it is justified but if you get shot dont defend yourslef in sc no self defense law in these woods we backwards,

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Friday, Nov 27 at 8:42 AM me wrote ...

it means 3 were trying to buy weed but instead tryed to rob him then shot him and he defended himself after being hit 3 times and took hickman (the shooter) out. why did hickman have a 40 cal and use it?

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Friday, Nov 27 at 8:39 AM me wrote ...

3 boys tried to rob and kill one and he returned fire and killed hickman. wondering if he was a cop and suspect leaving he couild have gotten a paid leave, but since he a civilian and got shot he gets charrged. thats in justice

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Thursday, Nov 26 at 8:11 PM Aiken Resident wrote ...

I agree with Concerned Resident. I too travel the area frequently to hunt and see all sorts of "questionable" activity. They need to step up patrols.

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Thursday, Nov 26 at 7:01 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Conspiracy to possess means that they were i the act of trying to buy... no doubt the murder was drug related as well... maybe the victim tried to rob them or owed them some money... whatever the case, one will point the finger at the other two and receive a reduced sentence..

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Thursday, Nov 26 at 6:50 PM Mickey wrote ...

I agree with the concerned resident. I travel through Petticoat Junction daily and I have seen a lot of questionable things and people in that area. I keep my car doors locked when I travel this road.

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Thursday, Nov 26 at 5:31 PM Concerned resident wrote ...

This area is very close to the area where another homicide happened a few months ago. Green Rd., Green Bush Rd, and Silverbluff Rd. are areas of drugs, stolen vehicles, and other criminal activities. I hunt near by and often find stripped vehicles which turn out to be stolen. I often see individuals staggering in the roadway. Aiken County Sheriffs Office needs to perform more patrols in this area along with license checks. Keep it hot so the thugs have to leave.

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Thursday, Nov 26 at 3:55 PM Jeff Magnus wrote ...

What the hell is "conspiracy to possess marijuana" mean? Its not enough to cog our judicial with people who o something a harmless as smoke pot but now its even illegal tothink about it!

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