A man from New York is facing a lifetime behind bars for the fatal shooting of a South Carolina couple, once family friends.

Charles Saunders, 50, was convicted of murdering Alesia Dykes, 40, and Bernard Lyles, 38. The couple resided in Hardeeville, a town near South Carolina’s border with Georgia. They had opened their home to Saunders’ adult son, whose mother is Dykes’ sister. Visiting from New York, Saunders arrived at the couple’s apartment on June 18, 2024, shortly after his son’s child was born.

According to Trasi Campbell from the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, tensions had been rising between Saunders and Lyles in the days leading up to the incident. Saunders had even shared a video on social media brandishing firearms and making threats to shoot someone.

On the day of the tragedy, Saunders showed up at Dykes’ and Lyles’ home, where a verbal confrontation quickly escalated into a physical one. The couple retreated indoors, but Saunders pursued them, firing a 9 mm handgun into the apartment, where three children were present.

After the shooting, Saunders fled the scene. One of the children managed to run to a nearby relative’s house to seek help. Dykes was declared dead at the scene, while Lyles later died from his injuries at the hospital.

Surveillance footage captured Saunders attempting to evade capture. He discarded his shirt, later found in a dumpster with gunshot residue. Authorities tracked him to a Waffle House after spotting him getting into a car. He was arrested there without incident.

Local CBS affiliate WTOC was in the courtroom for the three-day trial. Dykes’ sister testified that she found out Dykes and Lyles were shot when her nephew told her, “‘Iz shot momma and Boo Boo too,” referring respectively to Saunders, Dykes, and Lyles.

Saunders’ defense attorneys attempted to argue that he acted in self-defense when he shot Lyles and Dykes. The jury was not convinced, and it returned a guilty verdict on two counts of murder after about an hour.

Saunders was sentenced to two life sentences plus five years.