2 men given life sentences in connection with murder of 6-year-old
Winston Hunter
Image: Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office
ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Two men will be serving life sentences in connection with the murder of 6-year-old Winston Hunter in May 2022, says the solicitor’s office.
In May 2022, Hunter was sitting on his couch when 21 bullets were fired into his home.
On May 13, 2022, North Police Department, Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division responded to a shooting on McClain Street in the town of North.
Investigators say on that day six-year-old Winston Hunter was preparing for bed after him and his family returned home that day from a family gathering when at least twenty-one bullets were fired into his home, striking him as he sat on a couch in the living room.
“Winston Hunter’s home was turned into a warzone,” Solicitor David Pascoe said during the plea.
The solicitor’s office says his father and 12-year-old brother attempted to render aid to him but the child was pronounced dead on scene.
Camera footage found during the investigation revealed a light-colored Sedan turning onto McClain Street just before the murder and leaving immediately after.
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office released the footage to the press and two weeks later received information from the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office in New York of a tip regarding Winston’s murder.
The Sedan was stopped by New York officers while Jerimiah Harley was driving the sedan which was registered to Ethan Anderson who still resided in Gaston, South Carolina, say deputies.
At the time of the New York traffic stop, Anderson was arrested in Gaston by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Anderson confessed to firing into the home and implicated Harley. Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office deputies say they recovered three firearms believed to be used in the murder.
The firearms were sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division who conclusively matched every fired shell casing found on scene, says the solicitor’s office.
Additionally, law enforcement found a large number of text messages and social media evidence that lead to both Anderson and Harley.
“All the evidence pointed to Harley orchestrating what transpired outside of Winston Hunter’s home,” Solicitor Pascoe states.
Ethan Anderson and Jerimiah Harley pled prior to their Orangeburg County trial.
The case was prosecuted by Solicitor David Pascoe, Deputy Solicitor Tommy Scott, and Assistant Solicitor Mark Hinds.
