ROWESVILLE, S.C. – A Rowesville man has been detained in connection with the fatal shooting of a teen who investigators believe was the victim of a hunting accident.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said the Rowesville man is expected to be charged this weekend with involuntary manslaughter in the incident which occurred late Thursday.

“We continued our investigation through last night,” Williams said. “We were able to find what we believe to be a recently spent shotgun shell. The guns the victims were carrying did not match the weapon that fired the shell.”

Joshua Gainey, 16, of 194 McBow Road, Rowesville, suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest, according to an incident report. Upon the arrival of Emergency Medical Services and county deputies, Gainey was declared dead at the scene.

Williams said it appeared the Rowesville youth was shot with a shotgun. Three men accompanying Gainey on the hunting trip were carrying rifles, the report states.

Searching the cornfield where the hunting party was fired upon Thursday, investigators located the shotgun shell that prompted the use of a K-9 unit, Williams said.

“We tracked a scent to a residence nearby and based upon that were able to identify an individual who had information specific to the shooting,” the sheriff said.

The person was taken into custody Friday. Williams said a warrant is being sought and could be served at some point during the weekend.

Williams said the shooting occurred at around 7 p.m. Thursday, as the four hunters were walking through a cornfield off Majer Road about a mile south of Rowesville.

The field is less than a quarter of a mile from Gainey’s residence.

The other hunters reported Gainey was leading the group through the field when a shot rang out “that sounded as if it was close,” according to a Sheriff’s Office incident report.

The others with Gainey said that when the shot rang out, Gainey was walking about 20 feet in front of them.

“He yelled that he was shot in the chest,” the report states. “The victim walked back toward (the group) about 20 feet and fell to the ground.”

Officials say the investigation is still developing but they believe at this point the shooting was unintentional.

First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe on Friday said state law defines involuntary manslaughter as involving no intentional act of malice but rather criminal negligence resulting in the death of another.

“It’s a reckless disregard for the welfare of others,” he said.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.

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