Two men sentenced to life in prison in death of 6-year-old Orangeburg Co. boy
ST. GEORGE, S.C. (WCSC) - A judge handed down two life sentences for the men who pleaded guilty to the murder of an Orangeburg County child in 2022.
Ethan Thorne Anderson and Jerimiah J. Harley both entered their pleas Tuesday prior to their scheduled jury trial in Orangeburg County, according to a news release from First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe’s office.
Judge Maite Murphy sentenced each man to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The charges stem from a drive-by shooting that killed 6-year-old Winston Hunter on May 13, 2022.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies responded to a shooting on McCain Street in North on May 13, 2022. Officials said the boy and his family had just gotten home from a family gathering when their house was hit by at least 21 bullets.
Hunter was sitting on the couch when one of the bullets struck him, and he died at the scene.
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During the investigation, authorities released security footage that showed the vehicle that was involved in the shooting. Law enforcement in New York stopped the vehicle that was driven by Harley and ed to Anderson.
Anderson was arrested in Gaston and itted to firing into the residence and implicated Harley, the release states.
Officials said law enforcement obtained three firearms that matched the shell casings found at the scene. A large number of text messages and social media evidence also connected Anderson and Harley to the crime.
The case was prosecuted by Solicitor David Pascoe, Deputy Solicitor Tommy Scott and Assistant Solicitor Mark Hinds.
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