In the quiet town of Aiken, South Carolina, a dispute between longtime friends and roommates culminated in a tragic end. On the evening of May 9, 2024, 56-year-old William Joseph Collins, a white male and a local carpenter, was fatally shot inside his home on Sparkleberry Lane. Authorities responding to a call around 6:50 p.m. discovered Collins unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his head.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The man charged in connection with Collins' death was his 61-year-old roommate, Vance Mack Fleming. The two had reportedly been best friends since childhood and had lived together for the past seven years. According to the victim's son, a heated argument over a dog escalated while Fleming was heavily intoxicated, leading to the fatal shooting. A third friend who was present at the time made the call to the police.
Fleming was promptly arrested at the residence and has since been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed in Newberry to officially determine the cause of death. The incident has left the local community in shock, highlighting the devastating consequences of personal disputes turning violent.
