In the early afternoon of a Tuesday in Hardeeville, South Carolina, the life of 40-year-old Alesia Dykes, a Black female, was tragically cut short. On June 18, 2024, at approximately 12:35 p.m., the sound of gunfire shattered the quiet at the Walsh Drive Apartments. When the chaos subsided, Alesia was found with fatal gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another resident, 38-year-old Bernard Lyles, was also critically injured in the shooting and later died at Coastal Carolina Hospital.
The events that led to the deadly encounter began with an altercation in the parking lot of the apartment complex. An argument had reportedly broken out between Dykes, Lyles, and a man identified as 49-year-old Charles Saunders of New York City. Investigators believe that Saunders, who had relatives in the Jasper County area, was acquainted with both victims. Following the initial dispute, Saunders is alleged to have followed Dykes and Lyles into an apartment where he then opened fire.
In the aftermath of the shooting, a multi-hour manhunt for the suspected gunman was launched. Law enforcement, aided by tips from the public and the use of Flock cameras that capture images of passing vehicles, tracked Saunders to a Waffle House in Ridgeland, about 15 miles away from the scene of the crime. He was taken into custody without incident. Saunders has since been charged with two counts of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He is currently being held at the Jasper County Jail as the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division assists the Hardeeville Police Department with the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not yet released a motive for the shooting or further details about the nature of the relationship between Saunders and the victims.
