On a summer day in Westminster, South Carolina, 62-year-old Danny Andrew Smith was on his tractor, clearing brush in a field on his family's property. It was a routine task that took a tragic turn on June 23, 2021. When his wife, Marilynn, could not get in touch with him, she went to look for him and made a devastating discovery. She found him slumped over the steering wheel of the still-running tractor which had come to a stop after striking a tree.
An autopsy would later reveal that the white male had died from a single gunshot wound to his back.
The Oconee County Sheriff's Office launched a homicide investigation into the death of the retired US Engine Valve employee and volunteer fireman. The investigation led to the identification of two suspects, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy. Investigators determined that both boys had recklessly fired a. 22 caliber rifle in the direction of Mr. Smith as he was on his tractor. It was unclear which of the shots fired ultimately struck and killed him.
Due to their ages, the names of the two boys were not publicly released. They were both charged with involuntary manslaughter in Family Court. Under South Carolina law, children of their age are too young to be held in a juvenile detention facility, so they were released into the custody of their parents. Authorities did not release information regarding how the boys obtained the rifle or what their motive was for firing at Mr. Smith.
