By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ncsologo1.jpg

LITTLE MOUNTAIN — The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office is operating under the assumption that a home invasion early Wednesday morning that left one person dead — and marked the county’s first homicide of 2015 — was not a random act.

“We do believe, based on the incident location and the timing, that this was a targeted incident, not random. We believe that the individuals intended on robbing these people,” Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said.

The incident, which took place on Ponderosa Lane in Little Mountain, is a rural area off the beaten path, he said, adding that increased his belief that the suspects knew who they were robbing.

Coroner Craig Newton identified the victim as Ronnion Danyell Barron, 32, of Ponderosa Lane in Little Mountain. Newton said Barron died of a single gunshot wound to the head and classified the death as a homicide.

According to the NCSO, deputies were called to Barron’s home near the Lexington County line after a home invasion was reported around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The investigation showed that two people were inside the home when someone knocked at the door. When one of the residents pulled back a curtain over the door’s window, he was shot through the glass. The second resident then ran to the back of the mobile home and hid between a mattress and the wall.

That resident reported hearing more gunshots and the home being ransacked. According to Foster, the suspects took off with $200.

As the four men were leaving the mobile home, they encountered two people approaching the home. The two managed to escape in their vehicle while being shot at and fled to a home nearby.

The four suspects then left the area and traveled toward Lexington County in a dark colored four-door vehicle.

A Crime Scene Unit from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was called in to assist. The Lexington Sheriff’s Office was notified of the situation, but are not actively assisting in the investigation, Foster said.

Investigators were able to pull bullets from the crime scene and those will be used to identify the caliber of the gun used.

“At this time, the gun has not been identified. We are still processing the slugs to determine the caliber. Once we have a suspect weapon, we will be able to identify if it was the weapon used,” Foster said.

The four suspects are described as black males dressed in dark colored clothing. One man had a camouflage scarf type cloth over his face. They were armed with a handgun and a long gun. At this time the NCSO has not identified any suspects.

“The victims have stated that they do not know who these men were,” Foster said.

The NCSO is currently looking into a motive, but have not found anything concrete. While they have not determined if there are any drug or gang connections, Foster said they are not ruling anything out.

Tonight marks the first night of the Little Mountain Reunion, and while Foster said there will be a police presence as always, there will not be an increased presence.

“I do not think this incident will have an impact on the Reunion in any way,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-Crime-SC, to text TIPSC plus your message to CRIMES (274637), call the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office at 803-321-2222 or call 911. All tips remain confidential.

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.