CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — A South Carolina community is devastated after deputies said a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed while playing video games inside her own home early Tuesday morning.
According to investigators, the gunman drove to the house on Cleveland Street in the Cheraw area with an assault rifle, walked up and just started shooting. The teen was in her room with a younger sibling when the bullets started flying.
“It’s very painful for me as a leader in this community and for the people in this community,” said Steevenson Pierre, president of the Cheraw Branch of NAACP. “If you not safe at home, where else can you be safe at?”
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Chesterfield County Capt. Wayne Jordan said two groups had an ongoing dispute and one side came to the house thinking their enemy was inside.
“From what I understand, the 13-year-old girl was not the target. There was another person at the house they thought was at the house,” he said.
Late Wednesday, detectives said they arrested six people they believe were involved. All of them are between the ages of 18 and 23.
“They were shocked at the whole situation. Sometimes I feel like they think it’s just a big game, let’s just go take our gun and let’s just shoot,” Jordan said.
Pierre and Jordan want to get the message to young people that gun violence is not a game.
“Once your life’s over, it’s over. You don’t start the game over,” Jordan said. “These kids do not comprehend, do not comprehend what they’re doing.”
Pierre said he hopes to launch a mentorship program soon to start impacting young people before they get involved in crime.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office at 843-623-2101 or the tip line at 843-287-0235.
Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
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