News writer
What began as an ordinary evening in a South Carolina neighborhood took a deadly turn when a dispute over a lottery ticket escalated into violence. Deputies responding to a call about a theft arrived just in time to hear a gunshot, and moments later, a 70-year-old man was seen walking away with a weapon.
Now, with one man dead and another in jail, questions remain about what really happened that night. How did a “fairly decent neighbor” all of a sudden crack and fatally shoot a man he had been doing yardwork with all day?
Dispute over lottery ticket ends in tragedy
Around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, deputies responded to a home on Congaree Church Road for reports of a stolen lottery ticket, according to the Richland County Sheriff's Office.
Once at the scene, officers said they heard a gunshot. Then they saw 70-year-old Paul Williams leaving with a gun.
Deputies went into the backyard of the house and found 67-year-old Matthew Flemming, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to the body. Officials said he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
A "fairly decent neighbor"
After the incident took place, Flemming's aunt, Georgia-Anna Montgomery, talked with WACH, stating her neighbor, Williams, had always been a “fairly decent neighbor,” and she was shocked by what happened on Wednesday night.
What led up to the shooting? Montgomery said her nephew was at her house during the day, working on her yard. She joined him after getting out of work before things took a turn.
Montgomery said:
My neighbor had been helping him some earlier before I got off of work, and they were getting along fine.
A trip to the store changed the mood
Montgomery said that while the men were getting along fine most of the day, things changed after her nephew took Williams to the store. She said that Williams' demeanor changed when the two returned from the store. Montgomery explained:
Now, I'm sure they may have been getting some alcohol because when he got back, he was like a different person; he began to quote scriptures.
She said that Williams started to get very loud, so she asked him to leave her property. She added:
After a while, I heard my nephew say 'Auntie, come see about your neighbor', and I said 'what', and he said 'Auntie, come see about your neighbor', and that's when I heard a shot.
An arrest was made
While officials did not give any details about the South Carolina Lottery ticket that caused the fight, Williams was arrested in connection with the shooting. He was charged with Flemming's murder, and a judge ordered him to stay behind bars when he denied him bond, officials said.
According to Flemming's family, he was a loving, kindhearted, private individual. He leaves behind two daughters and grandchildren. He also leaves behind his longtime dog, Rocky, who will go to one of his daughters.
Enjoy playing the South Carolina Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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