Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced that on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 just after 9:00 PM Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a shots fired call at Freshly Mill and Pet Sites Road (Irmo). Upon arrival deputies found a female victim on the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds.

While at the scene, deputies heard gunshots coming from a location approximately 100 yards away. Deputies drove towards the direction of the shot and observed a male suspect standing at the residence, 137 Sid Eargle Road – the suspect fired two shots towards a deputy. Contact was established with a person inside the home who advised deputies that there was a 2 year old inside who had had been shot. Deputies approached the residence and found the suspect sitting in a chair unresponsive with a pistol in his hand.

Sheriff Lott stated that this was a domestic situation that turned deadly. Investigators are continuing to examine the evidence to determine the exact sequence of events. Richland County Sheriff’s Department Victim’s Advocates are working with all families involved in this tragedy – both victims were transported to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital.