Local Radar

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Suspected N. Augusta shooter taken into custody in Johnston

web posted February 3, 2007

Below: Booker T. McKenney Jr.
JOHNSTON – The shooting of an Aiken County school bus driver around 6:45 Friday morning left one woman fighting for her life and the suspect hiding out at a Johnston home. 54-year old Beryl Kensey of Graniteville had just arrived at the bus parking lot behind North Augusta Middle School to begin her route, police say, when 69 year-old Booker T. McKenney Jr. from Belvedere shot her at least four times in the chest area with a .22 caliber pistol. Kensey was able to drive about 100 yards in an attempt to flee before collapsing over the steering wheel and being discovered by another bus driver.

Kensey was taken to MCG Trauma Unit in critical condition for treatment. According to Aiken County School Officials, Mrs. Kensey remains in critical condition at press time.

Mr. McKenney reportedly left the scene of the shooting and went to a home on the 20 block of Hill Top Drive in Johnston where he told longtime friend Frank Burt, the homeowner, what he had done. “He said he shot her,” Burt said. McKenney and Mrs. Kensey were involved in a relationship that had reportedly gone sour. Mrs. Kensey’s husband had recently passed away and she reportedly had been trying to end the relationship with Mr. McKenney.

Below: Police begin gathering for deployment
According to various sources Mr. McKenney had been up all night drinking and contemplating his crime. When Kensey arrived for her route McKenney, also a school bus driver, was waiting for her in her bus. After a confrontation he is accused of shooting Kensey four times and then fleeing.

Mr. Burt said Mr. McKenney telephoned Aiken County School Bus Department Officials and they were able to keep him on the line and calm until police could locate him in Johnston. Once Johnston Police Officers, Edgefield County Deputies, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, North Augusta Public Safety, and the Edgefield County SWAT Team assumed positions around the house officials were able to take Mr. McKenney into custody without incident Sheriff Adell Dobey said.

Below: McKenney taken into custody
Chief Investigator Randy Doran said Mr. McKenney was transported to the North Augusta Public Safety facility where he was interviewed. He was later transferred to the Aiken County Detention Center and booked on charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, South Carolina’s equivalent of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He was scheduled for bond hearing late Friday.

According to a press release from North Augusta Public Safety Mr. McKenney has confessed to the shooting. No children were present at the time of the shooting.

Chief Investigator Doran said no charges would be filed in Edgefield County since Mr. Burt allowed Mr. McKenney into the home and was never held against his will. Mr. Burt actually aided in the peaceful surrender to police.

Additional charges may be pending against Mr. McKenney as the investigation continues. North Augusta authorities recovered the gun not far from the crime scene at a location provided by Mr. McKenney.
 
 
 

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