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 automobiles struck his household’s car, authorities said Tuesday.

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a 3rd grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured within the capturing Saturday near Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Workplace said.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automobile, was struck within the leg, the release mentioned. 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, attempted murder and different crimes, the sheriff's office stated.

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

In an announcement, Portsmouth Faculties Superintendent Steve Zadravec mentioned Quarius — a third grader — was vacationing along with his family in South Carolina at the time of the capturing, according to NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our community as an entire,” he said. “Our hearts are with the household as we assist each other through this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern informed the station: "You go on vacation to make reminiscences that last a lifetime along with your children, and for this tragedy to befall this household, I used to be just sick to my stomach." 

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

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