Man pleads to weapons charges in SC girl’s death

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – A Lexington County man has pleaded guilty to weapons charges after the shooting death of a child by a boy at a birthday party earlier this year. U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said in a statement that 28-year-old Warren McDaniel of Gaston admitted the rifle belonged to him. Nettles said the convicted felon admitted he had bought the gun for protection because he sold marijuana. Seven-year-old Juliet Lynch was killed and a 5-year-old was injured in the April 12 shooting at a birthday party in Gaston. Authorities said the boy was given access to the trunk of McDaniel’s car to get a toy gun. The child found a loaded rifle with a 30-round, high-capacity magazine. The child pulled the trigger and the two children were struck. McDaniel will be sentenced later.