Community meets in Estill to tackle rising teen crime in Hampton County

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. – Concern over a recent spike in violent crime brought a packed crowd to the Estill Fire Station, where Hampton County residents gathered to hear directly from law enforcement and county leaders about what’s being done – and how the community can help.

The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office hosted the meeting after a string of shootings to start 2026, several of them deadly.

“No one deserves to be killed or a life to be taken by an individual in this county,” Hampton County Sheriff Anthony Russell said.

Many of the recent cases have involved suspects under the age of 18, a trend that has law enforcement and parents deeply worried.

“Semi-automatic weapons in the hands of 13, 14-year-olds I know, is really scary,” One resident at the meeting said.

Law Enforcement Steps Up Patrols, Adds Community Officers

To respond to the violence, the Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols and added two community officers who will focus on Estill and another nearby community.

These officers are intended to build relationships, gather information, and provide a more visible presence in neighborhoods.

Even with those additions, the department remains short-staffed by about six to seven officers, making community involvement even more critical.

License Plate Cameras Coming to Estill

One of the major tools Sheriff Russell highlighted is the use of ALPR (Automated License Plate Reader) cameras.

These cameras scan and capture license plate numbers, sending information quickly to law enforcement and helping track vehicles connected to crimes.

The technology is already in use in parts of northern Hampton County.

“We have some deployed in the town of Brunson right now, and that has helped us tremendously,” Sheriff Russell said.

Now, the Sheriff’s Office is working to bring those cameras to Estill as well, hoping to replicate that success.

A Call for Parents to Step Up

While technology and patrols are part of the strategy, Sheriff Russell made it clear that reducing crime also starts at home. He urged parents to be more involved in their children’s lives and to set clear boundaries.

“Your kids need to be home at a certain time in the afternoon. You need to know what they are doing because they could potentially cause you to go to jail with certain things that they do in this community.”

People in the room agreed that parents have a key role to play—but they also stressed that teens need constructive options to keep them engaged after school.

“We need to get these programs going again. So that we can occupy these boys’ minds, they are bored to death,” One community member said.

Pushing for More Youth Programs

County leaders say they’ve already started adding youth activities in Hampton and Varnville and are now looking at expanding those efforts in the southern part of the county, including Estill.

Hampton County Commissioner Marvin Love encouraged residents to help shape what that looks like.

“If you have any ideas about how you can build our recreation department, not just in Hampton, but I am here tonight because I am concerned about all of Hampton County,” Commissioner Love said.

Youth Explorer Program Offers Inside Look at Law Enforcement

Another after-school option highlighted at the meeting was the Sheriff’s Office Youth Explorer Program.

The initiative gives young people a closer look at how the Sheriff’s Office operates and introduces them to careers in law enforcement and public service.

The program is run in partnership with the Hampton County School District, offering students structured, supervised activities and mentorship.

As Hampton County continues to grapple with youth crime and gun violence, law enforcement and county leaders say progress will depend on a combination of stronger policing, better technology, more youth programs—and a community willing to work together.