TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about suicide, which may be triggering to some.
A South Carolina man allegedly shot and killed an active-duty soldier and three children, including two of his own, before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide. Army veteran Charles Slacks Jr., 42, reportedly attacked the victims Tuesday evening at his ex-wife Aletha Holliday's home in Sumter. She was the only survivor.
According to Sumter police, the shooting was in response to a domestic violence incident. Along with the three children, police found two dead men, including the shooter. Police said there was no known threat to the community. Investigators did not release a motive behind the shooting.
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Slacks allegedly let himself into the house.
Sumter Police Chief Russell F. Roark III addressed the media Wednesday afternoon, detailing the crime, News 10 reported. He said Slacks entered Holliday's home around 10 p.m. Tuesday, using a key. Once inside the house, Slacks reportedly made his way to the backyard, where Holliday and an unidentified 30-year-old man were having a discussion. Slacks allegedly fired several shots, killing the man.
Slacks made his way up the stairs, according to police.
The children were sleeping upstairs, and Roark said that Slacks forced his way past Holliday to get upstairs and pointed a firearm at her. She went to call 911, but her phone was upstairs, so she reportedly went back to use the victim's phone.
Roark reported that Holliday heard several gunshots coming from the second floor. When she returned, the children had been shot, and Slacks apparently turned the gun on himself.
Police identified the three children.
The children who were killed are 5-year-old Aayden Holliday-Slacks, 6-year-old Aaron Holliday-Slacks, and 11-year-old Ava Holliday, WCCB reported.
After finding her children's bodies and verifying that Slacks was dead, Holliday reportedly ran across the street to a neighbor's home for help and was on the phone with 911.
The Sumter School District released a statement about the shooting.
ABC 25 obtained a statement from the Sumter School District and Superintendent William Wright regarding the family tragedy, sharing their sympathy:
"Sumter School District is grieving the loss of three students. Two siblings attended Millwood Elementary School, and another sibling attended Alice Drive Middle School. Our sincere condolences are extended to the family. School counselors and our Crisis Response Team are at the schools to assist our students and staff who need assistance with this tragic loss. Our hearts are filled with sadness, and we will continue to lend support to one another during this time."
The brutal attack came as a shock to friends and neighbors.
The Sumter Item posted the press conference on its Facebook page, and the comment section was flooded. Many residents are in disbelief that something like this could happen in their community.
"Omg! I knew those boys! They were so adorable! They love my dog Winston!!" one person wrote.
"I went to school with the girl…," another comment reads.
"This is sooo not right I'm in tears like why the children though why," a commenter questioned.
Roark said during the media conference that the investigation is fluid, and the police extend their condolences to the family and ask for prayers.
"When you may have a state of affairs the place little kids have been sleeping within the consolation of their very own mattress, and in no fault of their very own had their life taken, notably by a father and a stepfather, that's tough for us to rationalize," he said.
