Crime
Authorities Identify Victims in Triple Homicide Investigation in Berkeley County
Cross, SC — The Berkeley County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the three victims who were fatally shot in a tragic incident that occurred Monday afternoon in the Cross community.
Deputies from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Poplar Hill Drive at approximately 2:49 p.m., where they discovered three individuals deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
The victims have been identified as:
- Thomas Williams, 56, of Ridgeville
- Torrionda Taylor, 46, of Cross
- Marsena Moore, 55, of Summerville
Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell confirmed the victims’ identities and stated that autopsies have been scheduled to further determine the exact cause and manner of death.
The incident is currently being investigated as a triple homicide by both the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and the coroner’s office.
Authorities have not yet released details regarding potential suspects or motives.
Officials are urging anyone with information related to this case to contact the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office at 843-719-4412. Individuals who wish to remain anonymous can provide information through local crime tip lines.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.