In a tragic turn of events on a Tuesday night in Sumter, South Carolina, Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Evans, a 38-year-old male, was fatally shot in an act of domestic violence. The incident, which unfolded on March 21, 2023, also claimed the lives of three children before the gunman took his own life.
Evans, a decorated 20-year U.S. Army veteran from Petersburg, Virginia, was at the home of a fellow sergeant major, Aletha Holliday.
The two were colleagues and were in the backyard when Holliday's ex-husband, Charles Slacks Jr., used a key to enter the residence. Slacks then confronted them in the backyard and opened fire, shooting Evans. Evans was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Police have stated that Evans and Holliday were not romantically involved.
After shooting Evans, Slacks, an Army veteran and civilian employee at Shaw Air Force Base, went inside the house where he shot and killed his two young sons, Aayden Holliday-Slacks, 5, and Aason Holliday-Slacks, 6, and his 11-year-old stepdaughter, Ava Holliday, as they slept. Holliday, who had recently divorced Slacks, was unharmed in the attack. After killing the children, Slacks died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The motive for the horrific events remains unclear. Evans was remembered by his superiors as an outstanding leader and a caring friend who had a significant positive impact on his unit. He had served in the Army since July 2002 and his awards included a Bronze Star and a Meritorious Service Medal.
