Boy, 8, on vacation in S. Carolina killed by man taking pictures at random automobiles, officials say

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a person capturing randomly at passing vehicles struck his family’s car, authorities said Tuesday.

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a third grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured within the shooting Saturday near Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Office said.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automobile, was struck within the leg, the release stated. The boy was shot in his neck and pronounced dead at a neighborhood hospital Monday, NBC Boston reported.

Charles Montgomery Allen, 40, was arrested on suspicion of murder, tried murder and different crimes, the sheriff's workplace mentioned.

“Investigators allege that Allen fired multiple random rounds at passing autos,” the office mentioned. No motive has been decided.

In a statement, Portsmouth Schools Superintendent Steve Zadravec mentioned Quarius — a 3rd grader — was vacationing with his household in South Carolina at the time of the shooting, based on NBC Boston. 

“An occasion like this touches our community as a complete,” he stated. “Our hearts are with the family as we support one another by means of this unbelievable tragedy.”

Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern instructed the station: "You go on trip to make recollections that last a lifetime along with your kids, and for this tragedy to befall this household, I used to be just sick to my stomach." 

It wasn't immediately clear whether Montgomery, who's being held on the Florence County Detention Heart, has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.

Tim Stelloh is a breaking information reporter for NBC Information Digital.