COLOMBIA, SC – A 5-year-old child in South Carolina is now an orphan after the boy’s parents were murdered and his uncle is accused of killing them, officials said.
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According to Richland County officials, a man shot deadly at his brother and the mother of his brother’s son, WACH-TV reported. Both victims were found dead in two different counties, the television station said.
Ashli G. Haigler, 28, of West Columbia, was killed in a shootout that happened at about 5 am on Saturday, coroner Naida Rutherford of Richland County said in a press release. Haigler was found in a vehicle, shot dead in the upper body, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Her son was also found in the car, unharmed, crying for his mother, the WDRW reported.
On the same day that Haigler’s body was found, deputies from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office found the body of Rufus Carmichael, 48, in Batesburg, the television station reported.
Richland County sheriff Leon Lott said that both crimes led investigators to Charles Jason Carmichael, 41, WACH said. When confronted by deputies at his home, Charles Carmichael tried to escape, WRDW reported. A search of his car found a gun and evidence of blood, deputies said.
“He tries to escape us. We recovered a gun and a vehicle covered in blood, ”Lott told reporters. “He is accused of murder. At the moment, we still have a lot of work to do in this case. We have a 5-year-old son who saw his mother being killed ”.
Carmichael was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to Richland County’s online reservation records. No bail has been set, the state of Columbia said.
“It is absolutely horrible. I feel sorry for the child. I pray for the child. ”Steven Brewer, who lives near where Haigler was found, told WACH. “I hope this guy gets what’s coming for him.”