Danny Andrew Smith, 62, was killed while working on his family’s property in Westminster, South Carolina. On June 23, 2021, he was found slumped over the steering wheel of a still-running tractor that had stopped after striking a tree. An autopsy found a single gunshot wound to his back.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office treated the death as a homicide and identified two juvenile suspects, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy. Investigators say both boys recklessly fired a .22 caliber rifle toward Mr. Smith while he was on the tractor; it was not determined which shot was fatal. Because of their ages, the boys’ names were not released. Each was charged with involuntary manslaughter in Family Court and released to their parents, since state law prevents holding children that young in a juvenile detention facility. Authorities have not released how the rifle was obtained or a motive for the shooting.

If anyone has information about where these children got the rifle or witnessed the incident on June 23, 2021, please share what is known.