Aiken County sheriff's officials charged a 13-year-old Monetta boy in the death of a Monetta man Thursday night.
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Chief Deputy Dwayne Courtney said the youth was being held in connection with what investigators were classifying as a homicide.
Aiken County Coroner Sue Townsend identified the victim as 43-year-old Wilbert Harris but stopped short of calling the death a murder. Mrs. Townsend would only say the case was a "death investigation" pending an autopsy today at Newberry County Memorial Hospital.
"I'm not classifying this as a murder," Mrs. Townsend said. "This could be anything from a natural death to alcohol poisoning to manslaughter."
Mrs. Townsend said Mr. Harris was admitted to Aiken Regional Medical Centers "with injuries consistent with a fight, but whether that caused his death I don't know."
Chief Deputy Courtney said investigators have indications a weapon was used in an fight between the teen and Mr. Harris, but declined to elaborate. He said the incident occurred at about 7 p.m. at a row of mobile homes off U.S. Highway 1, about two miles north of Ridge Spring-Monetta High School just outside Monetta.
Investigators were not sure what happened Thursday night and were questioning several witnesses, including some juveniles. The teen and Mr. Harris apparently were acquainted, Chief Deputy Courtney said.
"My understanding is he (Mr. Harris) and some other fellows had been up there all day drinking," Chief Deputy Courtney said.
Mr. Harris also had been involved in a fight earlier in the day, but investigators say they don't believe that it led to his death.
The chief deputy said that after being questioned, the youth was to be transported to a juvenile facility in Columbia pending a hearing in Aiken County Family Court.
"We are charging this kid with the homicide," he said.
Reach Stephen Gurr or Jim Nesbitt at (803) 648-1394.
