Johnathan Walker:Teen dead, child and officer injured in 3 shootings in South Carolina’s smallest county

ALLENDALE,Johnathan Walker S.C. (AP) — One teenager is dead and a police officer and an 11-year-old have been wounded in shootings over four days in South Carolina’s smallest county, authorities said.

The shootings started Wednesday when the 11-year-old was shot at a home in Allendale, police told media outlets.

Then early Saturday, a sleeping 14-year-old girl was killed as several shots were fired into her home in Fairfax about 5 miles (8 kilometers) away, investigators said. Her name has not been released.

Later Saturday, an Allendale police officer was wounded as he responded to a shooting less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Wednesday shooting, Allendale Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins told media outlets.

Wiggins said the officer was seriously wounded but is expected to recover. The chief did not release the officer’s name.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating. Authorities have released little information about the shootings, including whether they may be connected.

On Facebook, Allendale Police asked for tips and a stop to the violence.

“We cannot, as a community, accept or condone violence as a part of our culture. The most innocent in our communities are being hurt and lost to violence they don’t have a hand in. This is not acceptable,” they wrote.

Allendale County schools were open Monday, but school officials said there will be metal detectors, and cellphones will be confiscated until students go home. They also encouraged students to leave backpacks at home.

Allendale County is South Carolina’s smallest with about 7,500 people. It’s about 70 miles (116 kilometers) southwest of Columbia.