Summerville police have arrested a second person in connection with a deadly shooting outside a Sonic Drive-In, charging him with helping the suspected gunman escape after the killing.

Roger Daniel Jr. was taken into custody March 26 with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the Summerville Police Department. He faces a charge of accessory after the fact of murder.

The arrest stems from a shooting that occurred earlier this year outside the Sonic Drive-In in Summerville. The case drew significant attention from law enforcement given the public nature of the location and the circumstances surrounding the alleged flight from the scene.

Accessory after the fact charges in South Carolina require prosecutors to demonstrate that a defendant knowingly helped someone avoid arrest, trial, or punishment after a felony had been committed. The charge is distinct from being a direct participant in the underlying crime, but it carries serious legal consequences under state law.

The involvement of the U.S. Marshals Service in Daniel’s arrest points to the possibility that locating him required resources beyond what local law enforcement could deploy on its own. The Marshals Service frequently partners with local and state agencies on fugitive apprehension, particularly in cases where suspects are believed to have crossed jurisdictional lines or made deliberate efforts to avoid capture.

Summerville Police have not released detailed information about exactly how Daniel allegedly assisted the primary suspect in fleeing the scene or what steps investigators took to connect him to the getaway. Those details will likely emerge as the case moves through the Dorchester County court system.

The shooting itself highlights the vulnerability that can come with outdoor commercial spaces. Sonic Drive-In locations, with their open parking lots and carhop service model, offer little physical separation between customers and potential confrontations in adjacent areas. Businesses and local governments across South Carolina have wrestled in recent years with how to address violent incidents at commercial properties, with responses ranging from increased lighting and security cameras to formal coordination agreements between private businesses and police departments.

The Summerville area has seen steady population growth as the Charleston region expands, and that growth has brought increased pressure on the Summerville Police Department to manage crime across a broader geographic footprint. The department’s decision to call in federal help for this arrest reflects a broader trend of local agencies leveraging partnerships with federal law enforcement to close cases more quickly.

Dorchester County, where Summerville sits, has seen its population more than double over the past two decades, driven largely by residential development and the expansion of the region’s economic base. More residents means more demands on public safety infrastructure, and violent incidents at high-traffic commercial locations tend to generate significant community concern.

The primary suspect in the underlying shooting has not been publicly identified in connection with Daniel’s arrest announcement, and it is unclear from available information whether that individual remains at large or has already been apprehended separately. Summerville Police have not commented publicly on the status of the murder charge investigation beyond confirming Daniel’s arrest.

Daniel’s bond status and attorney representation were not immediately available. Under South Carolina law, accessory after the fact of murder is a serious felony, and defendants facing such charges often remain in custody during pretrial proceedings depending on the circumstances and any prior criminal history.

The Summerville Police Department has asked anyone with additional information about the shooting to contact investigators directly. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry.

As this case moves forward, the public record will expand. Court filings, bond hearings, and preliminary proceedings will shed light on what prosecutors believe Daniel did and what evidence they have to support that account. The Sentinel will continue to monitor Dorchester County court records and law enforcement announcements for further developments.