SUMTER, S.C. — The Sumter County Coroner's Office confirmed on Saturday that two teens wounded in an accidental shooting several days earlier had died during the week.
Coroner Robbie Baker said that 16-year-old Ny'Heem Burgess died at Prisma Health Richland, and 18-year-old Kaneshia Commander died at Prisma Health Tuomey. Baker said Commander was Burgess' half-sister.
The two teens were critically wounded on Aug. 23 in what police described as the mishandling of a gun at the Sumter Palmetto Inn on North Washington Street. Baker said on Saturday that while the investigation is still ongoing, forensic evidence provided since then points to the incident being a tragic accident.
Obituaries show that a viewing for Burgess and Commander will be held on Sept. 6 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Whites Mortuary, 517 N. Guignard Drive in Sumter. A celebration of life will follow on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 1 p.m. at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 609 Manning Ave. in Sumter. Interment will occur the same day at Bradford Cemetery, 100 Tally Lane in Lakewood.