A Florence County courtroom fell silent Thursday as a judge handed down a life sentence to 43-year-old Charles Montgomery Allen, who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing an 8-year-old boy during a shocking roadside attack in 2022.
Allen was sentenced to life in prison by a Florence County circuit judge after admitting to firing a rifle into passing vehicles along Old River Road in rural Florence County on May 28, 2022. In addition to the life sentence for murder, he received five consecutive 30-year sentences for attempted murder. Due to the severity of the crimes, he will not be eligible for parole or early release.
A Family Trip Turned Tragic
Eight-year-old Quarius Dunham of New Hampshire was riding in a vehicle with his father, Matthew Dunham, and other family members when gunfire suddenly erupted. Authorities said Allen, who lived in a home adjacent to the road, stood in his yard and began firing a rifle at vehicles driving by.
One of the bullets struck Quarius in the back. He was rushed to a Florence County hospital but later died from his injuries. Several other vehicles traveling along the same road were also hit by gunfire during the attack.
Investigators confirmed that Allen did not know any of the victims. The shooting appeared to be random.
Arrest After Brief Standoff
Following the shooting, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to Allen’s residence. After a brief standoff, he was taken into custody. Authorities conducted an extensive investigation, gathering evidence that ultimately led to his guilty plea just days before his trial was scheduled to begin.
The case was prosecuted by 12th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Todd S. Tucker.
Emotional Courtroom Statements
During the sentencing hearing before Judge H. Steven Deberry IV, members of the Dunham family delivered emotional victim impact statements. Letters written by Quarius’ former third-grade classmates in New Hampshire were read aloud, highlighting the young boy’s kindness and the deep void left by his death.
The heartbreaking statements underscored the devastating ripple effect of the tragedy, which forever changed multiple families.
A Case That Shook the Community
The random nature of the shooting stunned both local residents and the Dunham family’s home community in New Hampshire. What began as a routine drive through rural South Carolina ended in unimaginable loss.
With the life sentence imposed and no possibility of parole, the court’s decision closes a painful chapter in the legal process — though for the Dunham family, the impact of that day will last a lifetime.
