Sheriff says motive for murder of teenage girl is still unknown

Why was 16-year-old Natiya Browne shot and killed
while she was at Plantersville General Store Sunday afternoon?
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver says investigators,
for now, do not know why Dae’mon Hykeim Sanders, 20, shot Browne.
When deputies arrived at the store, they saw the glass
of store’s doors was shattered and riveted with bullet holes.
A Sheriff’s Office incident report states a witness
pointed officers to the Plantersville Road side of the store where Browne was on
the ground and was not moving. She had a bullet hole in her chest area. A
second bullet struck her left shoulder.
Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway said Browne
died on the scene.
He said Browne, from Charlotte, was in town with her
family to attend a funeral.
Investigators quicky released a photo and information
about Sanders. He was later arrested, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He is
charged with Murder, Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime and Unlawful
Carry of a Firearm.
On Monday, bond was denied by a county magistrate on the
weapons charges. Bond for the murder charge must be set by a Circuit Court
judge. That is tentatively set to take place November 7.
Weaver says his office is aware of and monitoring
various claims Sanders shot Browne in self-defense. He said the comments have
been made within the Plantersville and social media communities.
“To date, the investigation has not uncovered any
defense claims, nor has it determined motive for the senseless murder of Natiya
Browne,” Weaver states.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone with
information about this incident or these individuals should call Georgetown
County Sheriff’s Office at 843-546-5102.