A murder victim in Elloree, South Carolina, has been identified after a deadly shooting took place earlier this week. The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an aggravated assault on Tuesday afternoon. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman providing aid to the victim, who had sustained a gunshot wound. The suspect, Hercules Felder, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
The shooting took place around 1 p.m. on Tuesday at a residence on Hampshire Court, located north of Santee. Initially called to the scene for an aggravated assault, deputies found a woman attending to the victim, identified as 27-year-old Deonne Johnson, who had been shot in the head. Another individual, Hercules Felder, was present at the location and was later taken into custody.
According to the warrants, 63-year-old Hercules Felder allegedly shot Deonne Johnson in the head. When law enforcement arrived, Felder surrendered and informed them that he had secured his firearm inside the house. Felder claimed that he had warned Johnson and others to stay off his property. He stated that Johnson had engaged in a physical altercation with his wife, prompting him to retrieve his gun and shoot the victim.
The victim’s cousin informed investigators that they had gone to the location because Felder owed them money. She stated that she remained in the vehicle while her cousin went inside. During the dispute, someone repeatedly honked the car horn, prompting Felder to come outside. The cousin recounted that Felder had threatened to retrieve his gun, and upon returning, he shot Johnson, who managed to make it back to the car before collapsing.
Tragically, Deonne Johnson succumbed to his injuries, leading to the murder charge against Hercules Felder. In addition to the murder charge, Felder also faces a charge of possessing a weapon during a violent crime. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to gather further evidence and statements from witnesses.