LEE COUNTY, S.C. — The search is on for suspects who deputies say shot a home in Lee County, injuring a mother and her infant.
Deputies said it was a drive-by shooting where dozens of bullets were fired at the house. Investigators said they believe a small vehicle pulled in by the home, made a U-turn and fired nearly 50 rounds into the residence at the H&B Mobile Home Park on Herbert Lane.
“It sounded like it was a firecracker going off,” neighbor Annie Flemming said. “I got scared, and I got my kids. I grabbed my kids and the husband. The first thing I did: I ran to my husband and told him, ‘Baby, there’s a shooting going on.'”
Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon said four people were inside the home. A mother and her infant were shot and are now in the hospital. There were also two other children inside.
“We had a 16-year-old that’s artistic and another 8-year-old that was in the house," Simon said. "And just senseless. Whoever did this callous act is heartless. It’s an issue not only in this community; it’s an issue in this state and in this country with these high-power rifles. So, yes, if it's just one incident, it’s an issue.”
Simon said deputies got a call at about 10:45 p.m. about a house being shot at. When they arrived at the scene 10 minutes later, Simon said deputies realized the house was on fire. Simon says they don’t think it was arson, but instead, the fire might have started from the gunshots.
“The investigation is ongoing," Simon said. "We’re trying to run out every lead that we can. We don't know that this is actually targeted or, rather, someone actually mistakenly got the wrong house. I don’t know yet.”
Simon believes two different guns were used, which he said likely means there are at least two different suspects.
“This is what you’re seeing in all the communities these days is these drive-by shootings with these high powerful weapons, which is disheartening for someone to do something like this,” Simon said. “I mean, no one is safe if a house got shot into. Until we can get these people apprehended, everybody is a suspect.”
Carroll Brown has owned this mobile home park and other properties for about 20 years and said this incident caught him by surprise. Brown said the tenants affected by this shooting lived there for around seven years.
“That’s normally a very quiet neighborhood and I’ve had tenants say that before to me, say it’s real peaceful here,” Brown said. “It’s very out of character for the park to have something of that nature going on.”
Fleming moved to the area two months ago from Sumter County and agreed with Brown that it’s been peaceful so far.
“It used to be quiet up here. Used to been calm and quiet and country living," Fleming said. "That's how I like it: nice, quiet, country living, people minding their business. Now, I'm a little bit scared. But the only thing that I can put my trust in is the Lord. Let the good Lord above handle it.”
Sheriff Simon says his office is leading the investigation with help from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
“No matter how minute it is, please contact the sheriff's office because that may be the piece of the puzzle that we’re actually looking for,” Simon said.
You can also report tips anonymously to CrimeStoppers by calling 1-888-CRIME-SC.