UPDATE: The Newberry County Coroner’s Office along with Newberry County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday at approximately 3:00 am on Drayton Street near Cherry Lane, in Newberry County.
Coroner Laura Kneece, has identified Ms. Sharonda Shontay Sims, 40 years of age, of Newberry as the victim in this incident. An autopsy was performed Tuesday. Ms. Sims died of gunshot wounds and the manner of death has been ruled a Homicide.
This incident remains under investigation by the Newberry County Coroner’s Office and Newberry County Sheriff’s Office.
Original story: The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning homicide of a Newberry County woman. The public’s assistance is being sought.
Just after 3am this morning, residents on 2000 block of Drayton Street just outside the City of Newberry heard several gun shots in front of their home. The residents went outside the home to investigate and found the body of a black female lying in a ditch. They called 911 and the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Newberry Police Department responded. The female was pronounced dead at the scene suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Law enforcement said that there were several shell casing located in the area. They would not comment on the number of times the victim was shot citing the pending autopsy and the integrity of the investigation.
The victim was wearing a black shirt, blue jean shorts, tennis shoes, and a red scarf around her hair at the time of the murder. Law enforcement is awaiting on the autopsy to identify the victim.
Law enforcement is asking anyone with any information about this homicide investigation to contact the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 321-2211 or CRIMESTOPPERS at 1888CRIMESC.
Law enforcement is also asking that anyone who may have cameras on the outside of their home in this area to contact law enforcement so that the footage can be reviewed to determine who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional updates and details will be released as the information becomes available.
