Boy, 8, on vacation in S. Carolina killed by man taking pictures at random cars, officers say

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a man taking pictures randomly at passing vehicles struck his family’s automobile, authorities said Tuesday.

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a 3rd grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured within the shooting Saturday close to Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Office stated.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automobile, was struck in the leg, the discharge mentioned. The boy was shot in his neck and pronounced useless at a local hospital Monday, NBC Boston reported.

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

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

In a press release, Portsmouth Faculties Superintendent Steve Zadravec said Quarius — a third grader — was vacationing along with his household in South Carolina at the time of the capturing, in keeping with NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our community as a whole,” he stated. “Our hearts are with the household as we help one another through this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern informed the station: "You go on trip to make recollections that last a lifetime along with your children, and for this tragedy to befall this family, I was simply sick to my stomach." 

It wasn't immediately clear whether or not Montgomery, who's being held at the Florence County Detention Heart, has a lawyer to talk on his behalf.

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