7-year-old SC boy shot during domestic dispute dies

NEWBERRY COUNTY, SC (WIS) - The 7-year-old Newberry boy who was shot as his mother fled a domestic dispute over the weekend has died.

Newberry County Coroner Laura Kneece has identified the victim as Iven James Caldwell.

Caldwell sustained a single gunshot wound to the head and was transported to Prisma Health Richland. He died of his injuries on April 22 at 2:54 p.m.

An autopsy was performed today and the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

“As a parent, my heart just aches for the mother and children who had to watch this child be shot and eventually die from this senseless act of violence,” Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said. “It is simply abhorrent to me that this child’s life was taken because of the willful, senseless, and reckless actions of this suspect.”

Caldwell was shot as his mother and two siblings fled a domestic dispute on April 20. The mother was also shot during the escape.

Sheriff Foster says that charges against the suspect, X’Zavier Sharif Davis, 26, will be upgraded to murder based on the death of the child from the gunshot wound. He is currently charged with four counts of assault and battery with intent to kill. He will be charged with one count of murder and three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill.

Davis and the female victim lived together at the residence. Two of the children are the suspect’s children as well. Caldwell is not the suspect’s biological child.

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