Richland County Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Burglary and Attempted Armed Robbery

Columbia, SC — A Richland County man, Christopher Cravets, 28, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole following his conviction for Burglary 1st Degree, Attempted Armed Robbery, and Conspiracy in connection with the 2019 shooting death of Delon Knack Summersett.

On Wednesday, August 14, a Richland County jury found Cravets guilty of all charges after hearing compelling testimony and reviewing key evidence presented by the prosecution. The charges stem from a home invasion that took place on November 25, 2019, where Cravets and two accomplices broke into Summersett’s home with the intent to commit robbery. The intruders entered through a rear bedroom window, waking Summersett, who was asleep on the couch. A violent struggle ensued, resulting in the victim being shot multiple times by one of the intruders.

Security footage from a neighbor’s home captured the perpetrators fleeing the scene, which proved crucial in identifying the suspects. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a fresh blood stain near the point of entry. DNA analysis conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) later confirmed the blood belonged to Cravets, linking him directly to the crime scene.

Cravets was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service in Conyers, Georgia, on December 27, 2019. During an interrogation with Columbia Police Department investigators, Cravets confessed to his involvement in the burglary and admitted to being the shooter, sealing his fate in the court of law.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitors Carter Potts and Nicolas Fowler from the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Their efforts culminated in a conviction that led the Honorable Judge Daniel Coble to impose the life sentence without the possibility of parole.

This conviction underscores the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement and prosecutors in Richland County. The outcome serves as a strong reminder that violent crimes, especially those resulting in loss of life, will be met with the harshest penalties available under the law.

For more updates and local news, stay tuned.

Black metal gun on white surfacePhoto bySomchai Kongkamsri