GAFFNEY, SC – A shooting incident in Gaffney led to an 11-year-old child and a 74-year-old woman getting critically injured. The incident unfolded Sunday on Providence Road and involved an argument that took a violent turn.
When deputies reached the crime scene, they discovered a severely wounded child and an elderly woman, who turned out to be the mother of the suspect, as per the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Several other children who were in the house at the time of the shooting escaped harm – a fact the CCSO attributes to divine intervention.
Initial investigations revealed that the 42-year-old suspect, Roger Sentell Littlejohn of Gaffney, had a dispute with his neighbors, during which he returned to his Destiny Drive home, equipped himself with an assault rifle, and proceeded to fire nearly 40 rounds into the neighbor’s house.
Deputies stated that Littlejohn attempted to escape the scene on foot but was apprehended not far from the location of the shooting. Officers also managed to recover the assault rifle allegedly used in the shooting.
The injured child and woman were airlifted to hospitals with serious gunshot wounds.
The CCSO issued 12 arrest warrants for Littlejohn in relation to the shooting. These include charges of attempted murder (five counts), possession of a weapon during a violent crime (five counts), discharging a firearm into a dwelling, and use of a weapon while under the influence.
The investigation is ongoing, and the CCSO is seeking more information from anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional details. They urge anyone with knowledge about this crime to get in touch with their office, call Crime Stoppers, or contact Sgt. John Underwood.