Coroner identifies child fatally shot during reported home invasion
Lexington County deputies are searching for a man after a child was fatally shot during a reported home invasion early Tuesday morning in the 100 block of Cedar Vale Drive.
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the child who was fatally shot as a resident of the home. Mason Hanahan, 8, was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at an area hospital as the result of an apparent gunshot wound. The investigation by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is ongoing.
Investigators said they are seeking community tips related to the identity of a man who drove away from the Cedar Vale Drive scene after shots were fired. Detectives have recovered evidence indicating the man might have been shot in an exchange of gunfire with the man who lives in the home. That man also suffered a gunshot wound that is not thought to be life-threatening.
“We’re still working to piece the sequence of events together but getting a name on the man who fled the scene will be the most helpful to us,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “The death of the young child during this incident is tragic and our hearts go out to his family.”
Detectives have no description of the man they’re looking for because witnesses said he was masked while inside the house, according to Koon.
Koon said anyone with information about who might have been involved can remain anonymous when they share a tip by calling Crimestoppers at 888-Crime-SC, logging onto www.midlandscrimestoppers.com and clicking on the “Submit a tip” tab, or by downloading the P3 Tips app for their Apple or Android device.