A murder investigation is underway in Sumter County, after a home invasion there. The crime itself is disturbing enough, but there's more. The victim's grandparents live right across the street, and they found his body.
Just a week after spending Thanksgiving with her grandson, Elizabeth Hunter says 25-year-old Joseph Letrez Brooks' sudden death, has rattled her family.
"Its hard during the holiday, but it would be hard any day for something like that to happen," said Hunter.
Her husband first found Brooks' body, then told his wife. When Mrs. Hunter walked across the street to see for herself, she knew the upcoming holidays would not be joyous.
"That's a life that's been taken away," said Hunter.
Major Hampton Gardner with the Sumter Sheriff's Department, says Brooks had been shot in the head. The latest incident in what he calls a disturbing trend.
"Just recently in Sumter County, we have had a rash of murders and I would imagine the total is certainly up," said Major Gardner.
"He was a good young man, and I think he was taken too early," said Hunter.
"Just hours after finding their loved one killed, family members are now having to do the unimaginable task of cleaning up after this brutal attack. Currently there are no leads in this case. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
According to a congressional quarterly press report, Sumter is the 5th most dangerous Metropolitan area in the country. Myrtle Beach is 7th and Florence is 10th.
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