Boy, 8, on vacation in S. Carolina killed by man capturing at random automobiles, officers say

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a man capturing randomly at passing automobiles struck his household’s automobile, authorities said Tuesday.

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

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automotive, was struck in the leg, the discharge said. 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 murder, attempted homicide and other crimes, the sheriff's office said.

“Investigators allege that Allen fired multiple random rounds at passing vehicles,” the workplace stated. No motive has been decided.

In a statement, Portsmouth Faculties Superintendent Steve Zadravec mentioned Quarius — a 3rd grader — was vacationing together with his family in South Carolina on the time of the taking pictures, in response to NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our neighborhood as an entire,” he mentioned. “Our hearts are with the family as we support one another by means of this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern told the station: "You go on vacation to make reminiscences that final a lifetime along with your kids, 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 speak on his behalf.

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