STATE BRIEFS

Man charged

in shooting death

FLORENCE— A man has been charged with murder after he turned himself into authorities investigating a shooting death that happened during a home invasion earlier this month.

Lamont McCall, 31, surrendered Monday, Florence Police Maj. Carlos Raines said.

McCall is charged in the death of 21-year-old Sammie Lee Samuels, who was shot June 17 while visiting a Florence home.

Police said Samuels and another man were ordered to lie on the floor by two masked men who broke in.

Samuels was killed while one of the robbers was with one of the victims in a bedroom, police said.

The robbers ransacked the house before leaving, authorities said.

Hit-and-run

vehicle found

MARION — State troopers say they have found the vehicle that hit and killed a woman walking near her Nichols home.

Juel Lawrimore, 43, was struck along a Marion County road near her house Sunday night by a 1995 GMC Yukon, Highway Patrol Senior Trooper Sonny Collins said.

The driver of the vehicle left the scene. The Yukon was found later at a home in Mullins following a tip, Collins said.

Troopers are interviewing several people about the incident, but no arrests have been made, Collins said.

Superintendent

loses his job

COLUMBIA — Longtime school superintendent Dennis McMahon was fired Monday night by district board members of Lexington-Richland 5.

McMahon, 60, had served for 11 years. However, the board voted 5-2 to let him go.

Board chairwoman Paula Hite said she thought there was ‘‘an unhealthy education environment.’’

‘‘Relationships have become bitter and contentious,’’ she told the crowd at the meeting. ‘‘The community, the board and the district staff have become polarized.’’

Hite was authorized to name a senior administrator in the district as McMahon’s interim replacement.