Boy, 8, on trip in S. Carolina killed by man shooting at random cars, officials say

An 8-year-old boy vacationing in South Carolina was fatally shot when a person shooting randomly at passing cars struck his family’s automobile, authorities mentioned Tuesday.

Quarius Naqua Dunham, a 3rd grader from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was fatally injured in the shooting Saturday near Florence, the Florence County Sheriff's Office said.

Quarius’ father, who was driving the automotive, was struck within the leg, the discharge mentioned. The boy was shot in his neck and pronounced dead at an area hospital Monday, NBC Boston reported.

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

“Investigators allege that Allen fired a number of random rounds at passing vehicles,” the office mentioned. No motive has been decided.

In a press release, Portsmouth Colleges Superintendent Steve Zadravec mentioned Quarius — a third grader — was vacationing along with his family in South Carolina at the time of the shooting, based on NBC Boston. 

“An event like this touches our neighborhood as an entire,” he said. “Our hearts are with the family as we support one another by way of this unbelievable tragedy.”

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

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

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