Boy, 8, on trip in S. Carolina killed by man shooting at random cars, officers say

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a person shooting randomly at passing cars struck his household’s automobile, authorities stated Tuesday.

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a third grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured in the capturing Saturday close to Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Workplace said.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automotive, was struck in the leg, the discharge stated. The boy was shot in his neck and pronounced dead at a neighborhood hospital Monday, NBC Boston reported.

Charles Montgomery Allen, 40, was arrested on suspicion of homicide, tried murder and other crimes, the sheriff's workplace mentioned.

“Investigators allege that Allen fired a number of random rounds at passing vehicles,” the office stated. No motive has been decided.

In an announcement, Portsmouth Schools Superintendent Steve Zadravec mentioned Quarius — a 3rd grader — was vacationing with his household in South Carolina on the time of the shooting, according to NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our community as a whole,” he mentioned. “Our hearts are with the household as we support one another by way of this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern instructed the station: "You go on vacation to make reminiscences that final a lifetime together with your kids, and for this tragedy to befall this family, I used to be just sick to my abdomen." 

It wasn't immediately clear whether Montgomery, who is being held at the Florence County Detention Middle, has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.

Tim Stelloh is a breaking information reporter for NBC Information Digital.