Boy, 8, on trip 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 family’s vehicle, authorities stated Tuesday.

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

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 local hospital Monday, NBC Boston reported.

Charles Montgomery Allen, 40, was arrested on suspicion of homicide, attempted murder and different crimes, the sheriff's office stated.

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

In a statement, Portsmouth Colleges Superintendent Steve Zadravec said Quarius — a third grader — was vacationing with his family in South Carolina at the time of the capturing, in response to NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our group as a whole,” he said. “Our hearts are with the household as we assist each other via this unbelievable tragedy.”

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

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

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