Sheriff: 3 found dead in car appear to have been shot

PINEVILLE, S.C. – Three people who were found dead in a car in rural South Carolina appear to have been fatally shot and may have been involved in a crash, according to a sheriff.

The car was found in a field near Pineville, Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis told news outlets late Monday night. Authorities responded after receiving a call Monday afternoon about a disabled car.

“It does appear that there were gunshots fired, but because of the wide area, we’re having to painstakingly go through the scene to try to determine what happened,” Lewis said.

The men killed were Martice Green, 23, Desmond Williams, 22, and Malik Gibbs, 19, Berkeley County Coroner George Oliver said. Autopsies have been scheduled for Wednesday.

Pineville is about 45 miles (72 kilometres) north of Charleston.