Bond set at $250,000 on man charged in teen's death
By RICHARD WALKER, T&D Staff WriterTuesday, October 07, 20088 comment(s) | Default | Large
Bond was set Monday on a Rowesville man charged with what investigators say was the accidental shooting of a teen during a deer hunt last week.
A warrant for involuntary manslaughter was served on 52-year-old Dennis Dwight Hall of 154 Majer Rd. in connection with Thursday’s shooting about two miles south of Rowesville.
Hall was taken into custody on Friday, and a warrant was served against him on Sunday -- the same day 16-year-old Joshua Gainey was laid to rest in Branchville following a memorial service at Branchville High School.
An avid hunter who enjoyed go-cart racing, Gainey was shot and killed Thursday less than a quarter mile from his McBow Drive home in Rowesville.
Orangeburg County Magistrate Don West set bond on Hall at $250,000, cash or surety, after Ricky Gainey, the victim’s father, and investigators requested that bond be denied.
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office Det. Patricia Eikhoff told the court Hall was in the process of selling his property in South Carolina. With family in his native Florida, Hall represented a flight risk, Eikhoff said.
The judge stipulated Hall should not leave the state nor have any contact with the Gaineys should he make bond.
A coroner’s report indicated Gainey was struck by a round from a shotgun following a deer hunt Thursday night.
Three men in Gainey’s hunting party told investigators with the OCSO and the Department of Natural Resources that at around 7 p.m. they were walking through a corn field off McBow Drive when a shot rang out “that sounded as if it was close,” according to a Sheriff’s Office incident report.
Walking ahead of the other three men, Gainey was struck in the chest.
Investigators say their suspect was located Friday morning after K-9 units tracked a scent they picked up near a spent shotgun shell found in the field where Gainey and his hunting party were fired upon.
Investigators say the shooter is believed to have left the area soon after the incident.
Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said the continuing OCSO, DNR and SLED investigation into the shooting is to provide the victim’s family with as many answers as possible.
“And we offer them our prayers,” Williams said.
T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5516.
branchvillelivin wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:51 AM:
This man stated that shots were being made and he was scared for his saftey so he ran to his home..as he says anyone would..
But to go home and not report ANYTHING to police...Come on people..Did this man know what had happened and ran home in hopes that they wouldnt think it was him?... "
7734 wrote on Oct 12, 2008 12:42 AM:
scmom2008 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:22 AM:
pachez422 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:27 PM:
PEOPLE, it WAS AN ACCIDENT!
Vandalizing Mr Hall's home, property and vehicle is not going to bring Josh back, nor make it anything more than what it is, A TERRIBLE TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Neither family will ever be the same. "
Wildhearts wrote on Oct 7, 2008 6:00 PM:
Captivated, thats a very good question I was askin myself when I read the paper...If law enforcement considers this "accidental" then why is Mr.Hall in jail and was charged a high bond? We havent heard his side of the story yet...Could it be that maybe he was out there that nite hunting himself, on his way home and decided to shoot his gun in that direction...Never realizing anyone was out there besides himself, specially this group of young men...And that the shot just happen to of hit this young boy? Im not sayin he did or did not do anything wrong...We dont know the whole story...At least from Mr. Halls side of it and how come they havent printed anything that he may have said during his bond hearing as to what happen that nite? All we know is from what the young men has stated...
But no matter, this family still loss a loved one...That is one of the hardest things in life to go thru...The loss of a child... "
branchville Native wrote on Oct 7, 2008 8:59 AM:
captivated wrote on Oct 7, 2008 7:03 AM:
Palmetto Guy wrote on Oct 7, 2008 12:25 AM:
If so, then the man charged with the death, would have known that other humans were in the vicinity, and that the bushes which he shot into could have probably conceled not only deer, but also nearby hunters, who had also fired their weapons.
In light of the fact that there was a history of bad relations between the shooter, and the victim, a completely thorough investigation is demanded, and not just to provide "answers" to the victim's family, but in order to ensure that justice is served in this most tragic taking of a young human life. "