Thursday headlines: Ex-soldier kills three children, soldier, self in Sumter shootings

A former soldier shot and killed three children, including two of his own, as they slept in their Sumter home Tuesday night. He also killed an Army soldier who worked with his ex-wife before shooting himself.

Authorities said the active-duty soldier who died had no relationship with the ex-wife other than as co-worker. The woman apparently frantically sought help during the shootings, which occurred around 10 p.m. Tuesday.

According to Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark, former soldier Charles Slacks Jr. “shot the co-worker in the backyard as the mother tried to stop him, pushed past her to go upstairs and shot the children, ages 5, 6 and 11, in their beds,” the Associated Press reported.

“Little children were sleeping in the comfort of their own bed,” Roark said at a Wednesday press conference.

CP OPINION: Lawyer offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Murdaugh murders trial

“Why would an innocent man lie to police about the last time he saw his wife and son alive? I’m no closer to answering that question now than I was in January when S.C. Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman appointed me liaison between the court and the press for the Alex Murdaugh murders trial.”

In other headlines:

City Paper to be available Fridays. Charleston City Paper is moving publication days from Wednesdays to Fridays every week. Pick up your copy tomorrow at one of 800 locations.

Singleton to lead MOJA Festival. Trumpet player Charlton Singleton of Ranky Tanky has been named artistic director of the MOJA Arts Festival, a multi-disciplinary festival produced by the City of Charleston’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Charleston Co. pledges $3.8M for possible shortfalls after deputy raises. Charleston County Council has promised an extra $3.8 million to support the sheriff’s office if it runs out of money after raising deputies’ wages last year.

Blue crab festival coming to North Charleston. The inaugural North Charleston Blue Crab Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 22 at the Jenkins Youth and Family Village off of Azalea Drive to benefit the Jenkins Orphanage.

Charleston beverage company to open first “cannabis dry bar”. High Rise Beverage Co. and Charleston Hemp Collective will serve a wide variety of hemp-derived THC-infused mocktails in a new “cannabis dry bar.”

Charleston company launches two canned cold brews. Charleston-based company Urban Alchemy launched two canned bold brews at the beginning of March during Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Two products line shelves in several Charleston locations: the OG Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew.