markbellune@yahoo.com

A former Lexington High student was found guilty Tuesday in a Dutch Fork High student’s death.

Kierin Dennis was 19 at the time of the stabbing.

His victim, DaVon Capers, 17, was stabbed outside the Lexington Cook-Out restaurant in 2014.

Capers was a senior at Dutch Fork High.

The spot is popular with local teens. They had congregated there that night after Dutch Fork played Lexington in basketball.

After family from both sides spoke to the court, Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. sentenced Dennis to the minimum of 30 years in prison. Time served since his arrest in 2014, including time in home detention and the Lexington County Detention Center, will be credited as time served on the sentence, Griffith ruled.

The murder trial began last week at the Marc H. Westbrook Judicial Center in downtown Lexington.

Defense attorneys said Dennis was acting in self defense when he stabbed Capers in the parking lot.

Dennis and his attorney Todd Rutherford have requested 2 “Stand Your Ground” hearings.

They maintain Dennis felt threatened when students surrounded his car.

Dutch Fork High students testified students did not surround Dennis’ car, and he had a clear path to leave.

Video shot from the crowd shows a group of teens approach Dennis’ car window, including Capers, after Dennis had sped toward them.

“I was upset, like he had almost run over our classmates,” said Alexis Brunson, a student who approached Dennis’ window.

“I wanted to let him know that wasn’t cool. You don’t do that.

“This is way more than a high school game. You’re putting people’s lives in danger.

“I was trying to get him to go home.”

Brunson told the jury she thought Dennis had thrown a punch before he drove away.

Then she found out Capers had been stabbed.

The jury deliberated for about 7 hours over 2 days.