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

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

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a 3rd grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured in the capturing Saturday near Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Workplace said.

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

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

“Investigators allege that Allen fired a number of random rounds at passing autos,” the office stated. No motive has been determined.

In an announcement, Portsmouth Colleges Superintendent Steve Zadravec said Quarius — a third grader — was vacationing with his household in South Carolina at the time of the shooting, according to NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our community as a whole,” he mentioned. “Our hearts are with the family as we help one another via this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern instructed the station: "You go on vacation to make memories that last a lifetime with your children, and for this tragedy to befall this family, I was just sick to my abdomen." 

It wasn't instantly clear whether or not 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 News Digital.