S.C. BLYTHEWOOD… After a shooting that murdered their 70-year-old aunt and seriously wounded her 37-year-old son, a family is searching for answers.
Fred Gause Jr., 43, was accused by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department with murder, attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
He is charged with shooting two persons at a home on Haygood Road late on Monday afternoon, killing one of them.
According to investigators, Gause used to reside next door to the Coffee family’s property.
Family members tell WIS that witnessing the shooting in broad daylight was frightening.
The area is peaceful. Alvetta Coffee, the victim’s niece, said, “I just walked into my house with my two girls, and it’s eerie.”
Coffee claims that someone opened fire on her aunt’s house next door, leaving her and her neighbors in disbelief.
When we emerged from our hiding place in the home, I saw nothing and no one. My aunt was lying on the floor in the living room as I ran next door. Coffee stated, “And my cousin was facing, and they were facing each other, and they had been shot.”
Coffee claims that after being shot while seated on the porch, her 70-year-old aunt fled inside. Before he was shot, her 37-year-old son was trying to protect her.
There are now numerous gunshot holes in the front of the house.
Coffee, who is still grieving, says she doesn’t understand why this occurred.
She would spend her entire day talking to her daughter while sitting on the porch. All she did was sit on the porch and listen to her music. I’m aware that they never go somewhere, but I’m not sure why. It’s quite strange,” Coffee remarked.
Coffee reports that her shooting cousin is critically ill and is presently receiving ventilation.
The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center is where Gause is being kept at the moment.
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