8-year-old is killed by South Carolina man shooting randomly at cars, police say

By Tina Burnside, CNN

A South Carolina man has been charged with murder after authorities say he “fired multiple random rounds at passing vehicles,” resulting in the death of an 8-year-old boy, according to a news release from Florence County Sheriff’s Office.

On Saturday, May 28, deputies with the Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of multiple shots fired at cars on Old River Road in Florence, South Carolina, the release stated. When deputies arrived they found a vehicle containing two victims — including the 8-year-old passenger — suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victims were transported to an area hospital for medical treatment, however, the child — who the release identified as Quarius Naqua Dunham — died from his injuries. The child’s father, the driver of the vehicle, was struck in the leg. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, authorities said.

According to CNN affiliate WBTW, the child’s mother was also in the car but was not injured.

The family, who are from New Hampshire, were in South Carolina for vacation, WBTW reported.

The suspect, who authorities identified as Charles Montgomery Allen, was located a short time later by a Florence County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team. He was taken into custody following a “brief standoff” at his residence, the release stated.

He has been charged with murder, attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. The Sheriff’s Office news release states that, as yet, “no motive has been determined for the shooting.”

Allen is being held without bond at the Florence County Detention Center.

It is unclear if he has an attorney at this time.

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