Four teens were shot to death early Sunday in the same neighborhood of Newberry, a small town on the South Carolina piedmont.
Investigators said Mykain Davis, 16, was shot to death around midnight on Wise Street on the east side of town. Hours later, the other three victims were killed on nearby Eleanor Street.
Coroner Laura Kneece identifed them as Jahquindin Toland, 18; Jhisere Robinson, 15; and Sonterrious Davis, 19, WLTX reported.
“These are not just Newberry kids, these are my kids, you know?” said Newberry Police Chief Kevin Goodman. “Kids I spend time with, so it’s hard.”
Goodman could not say if the shootings were connected but told reporters that the four victims knew one another.
“Preliminarily, I would say that everybody, all of the victims, are somehow connected,” he said. “They knew each other, and I understand they were in the same circle.”
Newberry High School moved to an online learning schedule on Monday in the wake of the shootings.
Residents and elected officials alike recognized the need for a more concerted effort to stop what seems to be ever increasing gun violence.
“Ten years ago I wouldn’t have ever thought nothing like this would ever happened,” one resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “I hope it gets better.”
Newberry City Councilman Carlton Kinard noted that the city has done “some tangible things in the community,” but clearly more must be done.
“I’m in disbelief and I’m hurt to the core,” said Goodman. “We’re losing our young people at an alarming rate at something’s gotta change.”
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[Featured image: WLTX screenshot]
