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More Charges Filed In Lexington SC Home Invasion That Left Eight-Year-Old Dead

Lexington deputies arrest father of boy fatally shot in May incident …

Three-and-a-half months after his son was shot and killed during a home invasion in Lexington, South Carolina, deputies with the Lexington county sheriff’s department have arrested 35-year-old Austin Graham Hanahan in connection with the case.

According to a news release, Hanahan has been charged with unlawful conduct to a child and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

“During the course of their investigation last spring, detectives determined Hanahan was selling and storing illegal narcotics in his home on Cedar Vale Court,” Lexington sheriff Jay Koon said in a statement. “Investigators located several pounds of marijuana, thousands of dollars in cash and several guns hidden throughout the house.”

Two individuals – 23-year-old Linda Lyn Monette and 24-year-old Reynerio Rafael Romero Jr. – are already facing a litany of charges in connection with the botched break-in, the goal of which was ostensibly to abscond with the marijuana in question.

That plan went fatally awry …

“Hanahan exchanged gunfire that night with someone who we believe conspired with others to steal drugs and cash out of the house,” Koon said. “We’re still working to identify and locate that other person.”

The break-in took place shortly after 12:00 a.m. EDT on May 14, 2019 at 112 Cedar Vale Drive in Lexington.

“A co-defendant kicked in the back door of the residence and engaged in a gun battle with the homeowner,” one of the arrest warrants noted.

(Click to view)

(Via: Facebook)

Eight-year-old Mason Hanahan (above) – who was asleep on a sofa at the time of the break-in – was shot in the head during the ensuing exchange of gunfire. Mason Hanahan was a second grader at Lexington’s Oak Grove elementary school and a standout youth league baseball player.

At the time of the break-in, Monette – who was described by police as “a guest in the home” – was “awaiting (the co-defendant’s) entry,” according to arrest warrants.

Monette and Romero Jr. appeared in a rap video that was filmed at the home last summer. The video – BanC Boys “The Weekend” – was produced by Jacobz Digital and posted to YouTube in August of 2018.

Austin Hanahan did not appear in the video.

(Click to view)

(Via: Lexington County Detention Center)

Monette (above) was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Two days later – on May 16 – she was further charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the incident. Two days after that – on May 18 – she was further charged with murder, attempted murder, burglary, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.

Romero Jr. was charged with criminal conspiracy and accessory to murder. 

Austin Hanahan was shot in the abdomen and according to Koon has “spent much of the summer in a hospital receiving treatment” for this wound.

(Click to view)

(Via: Lexington County Detention Center)

Hanahan (above) is being held at the Lexington county detention center pending a bond hearing.

As with anyone accused of committing a crime, Hanahan is considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system, or until such time as he may wish to enter a plea in connection with either of the charges he is facing.

All of the defendants in this case will be prosecuted by the office of S.C. eleventh circuit solicitor Rick Hubbard.

-FITSNews

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