Crime
Calhoun County Teen Charged in Fatal Shooting After Allegedly Consuming Drug-Laced Gummy; Victim Identified as Darius Aiken
Calhoun County, SC – The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office has provided new details regarding a fatal shooting that took place Friday evening, clarifying that the victims were not wearing masks, despite the suspect’s claims at the time of the incident.
Deputies responded to a residence in the 300 block of Cardinal Road in Elloree at approximately 8:00 p.m. following reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, officers discovered two gunshot victims.
19-year-old Darius Aiken, a recent returnee to the Elloree area from Summerton, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, who sustained non-fatal injuries, was airlifted to Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia for treatment.
Investigators later questioned a 16-year-old suspect and his father, who were also at the scene.
According to authorities, the teen suspect had ingested a marijuana-laced gummy and began experiencing paranoia and overheating.
As the effects of the substance intensified, the teen claimed he perceived two individuals wearing white masks in the kitchen.
He then went into his father’s bedroom, retrieved a shotgun, and returned to the kitchen.
Without provocation, he shot Aiken at close range, then fired at the second victim, who was attempting to flee.
The second victim was struck by bullet shrapnel but not a direct shot.
However, authorities later confirmed that neither victim was wearing a mask, and the shooter personally knew both individuals prior to the attack.
The sheriff’s office also noted that Aiken was the suspect’s neighbor, and the group had been socializing together before the tragic events unfolded.
Investigators are now working to determine whether the marijuana gummy the suspect consumed may have been laced with a hallucinogen, which could have exacerbated his altered perception and violent response.
Due to the suspect’s juvenile status, authorities have not released his name.
However, he has been formally charged with:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
- Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
The case remains under active investigation, and further forensic testing on the substance consumed by the suspect is underway.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information regarding the incident to come forward.
CHICAGO, IL — A man was found shot to death Friday night on Chicago’s South Side, prompting a homicide investigation by Area One detectives, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 900 block of West 63rd Parkway in the Englewood neighborhood at approximately 10:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a 36-year-old male victim suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and neck.
Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified him as Emerald Pretty, age 36.
According to preliminary information, a male suspect exited a white sedan, approached the victim, and opened fire before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.
No arrests have been made at this time, and Area One detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not released details on a possible motive or whether the incident may have been targeted.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department’s Area One Bureau of Detectives or submit an anonymous tip through CPD’s tip line or Crime Stoppers.