WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Mom defends children after son shot during alleged burglary

Mom defends children after son shot during alleged burglary

By Jody Barr - email

NEESES, SC (WIS) - An Orangeburg County brother and sister found themselves on the wrong end of a shotgun Tuesday outside a Neeses hunting club.
     
They're both charged with burglary and grand larceny after investigators say they stole two ATVs from the club. The owner of the club saw it happening, and unloaded four rounds of buckshot on them.

"Pulled right up in here, that's where he always parked it," recalled Pamela Baughman.

Except this time, Baughman says it wasn't a normal trip to mom's house. She says her son Chris climbed out of his truck Tuesday night bleeding from a shotgun wound. Her daughter, April Gleaton, provided the details.

"They just said they was riding," said Baughman. "They told me they were looking for a dog. See, they coon hunt, told me they was just riding."

The ride ended at a hunting club on Ninety-Six Road. Investigators say the pair cut a lock on the gate, stole two four-wheelers and broke into the hunting cabin.

"He told me he walked into the hunting cabin and looked around and April was outside," said Baughman. "She said she never did go in the hunting club and said that he just looked around and she said 'come on Chris, somebody's coming.'"

Investigators say that 'somebody' was the owner of the club, who caught the pair making a getaway. He pulled out his shotgun and started firing.

"He said, 'April, I've been shot,'" said Baughman. "She said 'Chris, you've gotta drive. If we stop to change and let me drive, he's going to kill us.'"

Only Chris was hit, and still has a piece of buckshot lodged in his shoulder.
     
Neither sibling offered any explanation of what happened when they faced a judge in bond court Friday.
     
Baughman says she still doesn't know whose story to believe.

The judge set bond on the two at $25,000 each. The sheriff's office says the hunting club owner will not face charges.
     
Chris Baughman and April Gleaton have their first circuit court appearances set for January.

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