Man Arrested in Beaufort After Death of 6-Year-Old Boy

Arrest Following the Tragic Incident

In Beaufort, South Carolina, an 18-year-old man was taken into custody on charges related to the shooting death of a 6-year-old boy earlier this month. The suspect, identified as Benjamin Shamar Seabrook IV from St. Helena Island, is being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center after being arrested late last week.

Charges against Seabrook include involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, unlawful conduct toward a child, tampering with evidence, and filing a false police report. Additional charges have been filed for alleged willful abandonment and neglect of a child by a legal custodian, according to jail records. The precise nature of the relationship between the suspect and the deceased child remains unclear.

The Unfortunate Event

The tragic incident came to light on March 3 when a shooting was reported at the Cross Creek Apartments located at 325 Ambrose Run. Responding officers discovered a six-year-old child in critical condition by the afternoon, who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Emergency aid was provided at the scene before Emergency Medical Services arrived to transport the boy to a hospital. Unfortunately, the child, identified as Frankie Martin Washington, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Washington was a student at Whale Branch Elementary where his principal described him as a “sunbeam in the classroom and a tender, affectionate child who brightened everyone around.”

Further Investigation & Public Response

According to forensic reports and investigations, Seabrook reportedly had the gun in the home, which the child managed to get hold of. The child’s untimely death followed the unfortunate discharge of this firearm. Initial police reports suggested the shooting might have been accidental.

Public information officers from Beaufort Police Department, however, refrained from commenting on their investigation and the relationship between Seabrook and Washington.

The arrest and subsequent charges have led to a wave of shock and grief throughout the Beaufort community, as residents grapple with this deeply tragic incident that claimed the life of a young child.

Sundry Updates on the Case

The recent events have escalated concerns over child safety in the Beaufort community. Advocates for safety regulations regarding firearm possession in households with children are urging the populace and lawmakers to pay serious attention to this matter.

Meanwhile, as the legal proceedings get underway, it serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences that negligence can bear. This incident has further spurred demands for imposing stricter laws for child safety, reducing gun violence, and ensuring responsible firearm ownership.