Boy, 8, on vacation in S. Carolina killed by man taking pictures at random vehicles, officers say

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a person shooting randomly at passing vehicles struck his family’s car, authorities said Tuesday.

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a 3rd grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured in the shooting Saturday close to Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Office said.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automobile, was struck within the leg, the discharge stated. 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 workplace mentioned.

“Investigators allege that Allen fired multiple random rounds at passing automobiles,” the office stated. No motive has been determined.

In an announcement, Portsmouth Schools Superintendent Steve Zadravec stated Quarius — a 3rd grader — was vacationing with his household in South Carolina on the time of the shooting, in accordance with NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our group as an entire,” he mentioned. “Our hearts are with the family as we help each other by means of this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern advised the station: "You go on trip to make recollections that final a lifetime together with your kids, and for this tragedy to befall this family, I used to be just sick to my stomach." 

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

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