Women dead, 7 injured in shooting at South Carolina graduation party

A woman is dead after what the local sheriff has called a "drive-by" shooting at a graduation party in St. Paul South Carolina on Saturday night. Seven others, including children, are injured.

The incident happened just after 11:00 pm, with a crowd of 14 people who were gathered on a private lawn being sprayed with bullets, hitting eight of them. The 32-year-old woman is as-yet-unidentified, and was transported to the hospital where she later died of her injuries.

According to local news, "Sheriff Baxley said that a graduation party was underway in the yard outside a residence on St. Paul Road when two vehicles appeared. One stayed on the nearby highway and the other pulled up to the event."

"According to witnesses, shots then began ringing out. In the gunfire, seven people, a 12-year-old, 13-year-old, 14-year-old, two 15-year-olds, a 17-year-old, and a 36-year-old were all injured. An eighth victim, identified only as a 32-year-old woman, died at an area hospital."

At the time of this writing, the motives for the shooting are still unclear, as are the intended target of the shooting or if there was any return fire at the assailants. Police do, however, suspect that it may have something to do with gang-related activity.

Persons who have any information which may lead to solving this case and/or apprehending the suspects are being asked to contact the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office as soon as they can.