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

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a man taking pictures 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 in the shooting Saturday near Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Office stated.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automobile, was struck in the leg, the discharge mentioned. The boy was shot in his neck and pronounced lifeless at a neighborhood hospital Monday, NBC Boston reported.

Charles Montgomery Allen, 40, was arrested on suspicion of homicide, tried murder and other crimes, the sheriff's office mentioned.

“Investigators allege that Allen fired a number of random rounds at passing automobiles,” the workplace said. No motive has been decided.

In an announcement, Portsmouth Faculties Superintendent Steve Zadravec said Quarius — a third grader — was vacationing together with his family in South Carolina at the time of the capturing, in accordance with NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our neighborhood as a whole,” he mentioned. “Our hearts are with the household as we support one another through this unbelievable tragedy.”

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

It wasn't instantly clear whether or not Montgomery, who's being held at the Florence County Detention Middle, has a lawyer to talk on his behalf.

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