No charges have been filed thus far in the August 10 shooting incident on Sweetwater Circle that left one man dead and three injured.
“No charges have been developed at this time,” said Barnwell County Sheriff Ed Carroll Monday. He said the shooting is still under investigation and any charges would be developed in coordination with the solicitor’s office.
The incident started in front of 481 Sweetwater Circle between Barnwell and Snelling “shortly before 8 p.m. August 10 when two individuals got into an altercation – purely verbal,” said Carroll. “Each individual had a group with them. At some point, guns were produced and shots were fired. Something happened to cause members from both sides to start shooting.”
John Carlos Pena, 26, of 101 Deer Run Road, Williston, died later that night in Barnwell County Hospital after being shot in the abdomen, said the sheriff.
Ricky Bodiford, Jr., 26, of Barnwell was shot in the leg. He was transported by ambulance first to Barnwell County Hospital and later to MCG in Augusta, Ga. He has been released from the hospital and is recovering from his injuries, according to his father. “He’s in pain, but he’s fine,” he said
Benjamin Greene Jr., 21, of Barnwell, and Maurice Williams, of Barnwell, were the other two gunshot victims, confirmed Sheriff Carroll. They were flown from Barnwell County Hospital the night of the shooting to Augusta. At last report both were listed in stable condition at MCG according to Barnwell Chief Deputy Coroner Denise Cato.
Sheriff Carroll said Williams was an innocent victim. “He was sitting on his porch, talking to his friends when the shooting started,” said the sheriff.
Bodiford’s sister, Heather Bodiford, said she was across the street from 481 Sweetwater Circle when she heard the shots. She said her brother staggered toward her. “He said, ‘They’re shooting! They’re shooting!They got me! They got John!’,”she said.
She said she called 911.
Another woman, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, said her daughter was nearby the scene and called home following the shooting. “I heard about six shots and then I heard people screaming,” said the girl.
The mother said she also heard the shots from her home about a quarter mile from the scene. “I thought it was a pack of firecrackers going off. Then the phone rang.” She said her cell phone recorded her daughter’s call around 7:30 p.m.
 Deputies and ambulances responded to the scene. Neighbors were advised to stay at home and lock their doors.
As dusk set in, deputies taped off the crime scene and began looking for evidence. The street was eventually blocked off from the public and the investigation went on into the night.

Shortly after the shooting, officers also responded to a car chase near the intersection of Hwy. 278 and 300 “which may or may not be related” to the shooting incident, said Sheriff Carroll. He said the timing of the chase “was just too coincidental not to dispatch some assets” to the chase which involved people jumping from the car. He said, “We have the driver of that car in custody.”
Agents and officers from SC Law Enforcement Division and SC Dept. of Natural Resources were called in to assist, as well as local police departments.
Pena was buried Saturday in Allendale County. According to his obituary, Pena was a native of Ulmer and a son of Jeronimo Pena of Ulmer and Diane Burke of Williston. He had attended Barnwell Schools, the Job Corp. in Kentucky and was a student at Denmark Technical College.
Police presence has been noticeable in the area to prevent further violence.
Carroll urged anyone with any information relating to this case, or other cases, to call the Crime Stompers number at (803) 671-1688. “It is totally anonymous,” he said. Crime Stompers can also be reached at www.bccrimestompers.com. Individuals may also call the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 541-1078.
“We need the community’s help,” he said. “It’s going to take the community getting involved to make a difference. With Crime Stompers, it is completely anonymous. Callers are given a number – no names are involved. Even the rewards are anonymous.”