Suspected Murder-Suicide in South Carolina Leaves 5 Dead
Police in Sumter, South Carolina, on Wednesday confirmed a domestic incident that resulted in the deaths of two men and three children.
Sumter Police Chief Russell F. Roark III said the shootings occurred on Tuesday at a home on Whitetail Circle. A father reportedly shot the three children while they were in bed, then allegedly killed a man in the backyard before taking his own life. Officers were dispatched to the home at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time.
A Sumter Police Department press release later identified the suspected shooter as 42-year-old Charles Slacks. The three child victims were also identified.
Public Information officer for the police department, Tonyia McGirt told Newsweek that the identity of the deceased male was "redacted pending notification of immediate family members."
The press release said: "Upon making entry into the residence dispatch advised officers, Aletha Holliday (Complainant, Mother, Witness) stated the suspect Charles Slacks (Offender) killed four victims and then killed himself.
"Officers made entry into the residence and observed Aletha at the top of the stairs. Also at the top of the stairs, was Slacks lying deceased on the floor with a gunshot wound.
Following the mother into her daughter's room, officers also found one of the children lying in her bed with a fatal wound. Officers discovered the unidentified male victim lying in the backyard of the home with multiple wounds.
Life-saving measures were attempted and he was transported to Prisma Health Tuomey, where he later died as a result of his wounds, according to authorities.
Police said there is no apparent threat to the public as they continue to investigate. No motive has been given by authorities for the shooting.
According to a report by WIS 10 News, the Sumter School District Superintendent Dr. William Wright has released a statement following the deaths of the three children.
"Sumter School District is grieving the loss of three students," Sumter School District Superintendent Dr. William Wright said in a statement released to WIS-TV regarding the deaths of the three children. "Two siblings attended Millwood Elementary School, and another sibling attended Alice Drive Middle School. Our sincere condolences are extended to the family."
The use of guns in incidents that involve murder-suicide has risen, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), which said that 2022 had the highest number of murder-suicides using firearms on record.
Some 670 occurred last year, up from 594 in 2021 and 570 the year before. As of March 9, there have been 134 murder-suicides involving guns, the GVA reported, meaning 2023 is on course to top last year's total.
Family mass killings in which the perpetrator died by suicide have also risen in recent years, according to a database compiled by USA Today, the Associated Press and Northeastern University.
Update 3/23/23, 8:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Sumter Police Department Public Information Officer Tonyia McGirt and a press release from the department.
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