Four teenagers in a small city in South Carolina were killed over the weekend in what a local official described on Monday as a "tragic 24 hours," according to a report by NBC News.
Newberry Police Chief Kevin Goodman told reporters in a press conference that the teens, ages 15 to 19, were found with gunshot wounds on Sunday, May 22, at two locations within a block of each other in the city with a population of about 10,000.
Goodman said that authorities were still trying to determine whether the shootings were connected. The police chief revealed in the press briefing that the teens were at least associates and operating within the same social circle.
Police Chief Goodman emotional about the teen shootings
Goodman said that as someone who loves the community and the youth, he is in disbelief and hurt to the core. Goodman was emotional as he voiced his concerns, saying they were losing their young people at an alarming rate.
A motive was not yet known for the murders, and no suspects have been identified in connection with the killings, according to WIS-TV. Goodman said that 16-year-old MyKain Davis was found just after midnight on Sunday west of downtown Newberry. Davis later died at a local hospital.
Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece identified the other victims as Sonterrious Davis, 19; Jahquindon Toland, 18; and Jhisere Robinson, 15. Goodman said all three of them had also been shot.
The local school superintendent issued a statement on Monday, saying two of the victims were currently enrolled and two were former students. Superintendent Alvin Pressley said that the Newberry community had been deeply impacted by this weekend's events, which had led to the loss of four young lives. Pressley added that no parent, friend, or teacher is ever prepared to face a tragedy like this.
Police investigating if retaliation was a motive in the teen shootings
According to Goodman, one of the people questioned about the first fatal shooting was killed in the second shooting. Goodman said it is too early to determine if retaliation was involved in the shootings. He told WYFF that it is always a concern when you don't know all the players, and the incident stems from what.
Newberry County Sheriff's Office has decided to tighten security in the area while the shootings remain unsolved, posting a message on social media that Newberry High School will be on e-learning on Monday because of the recent shooting incidents in the city.
They said extra law enforcement personnel would be stationed at area schools out of precaution. They made it clear in the statement that there has been no direct threat to a school. They asked for prayers for the families and the community affected by the shootings while the Newberry City Police Department is leading an intensive investigation.
