Deer hunters found the bullet-ridden body of an Aiken man in Ridge Spring on Sunday morning, authorities said.
Dominique Johnson – the man charged with killing 54-year-old James C. Johnson – lives on Cummings Road where the victim was found.
The bizarre series of events raise more questions than answers. The victim and suspect reportedly knew each other, but a motive has not been released. Here are the details that Aiken County authorities have released:
- Just after 4 a.m. Sunday, a 911 caller alerted dispatchers of a fully-involved house fire at 2966 Columbia Highway North in Aiken. Fire crews with Center Fire Department extinguished the fire and notified law enforcement of the suspicious fire. Fire crews found no victims inside or near the home.
- Around 10:15 a.m. Sunday, a second caller notified sheriff’s officials that a body was discovered in a field near 1297 Cummings Road in Ridge Springs. Deputies located an unresponsive black male who was lying face down, apparently shot in the back of his head.
- Later, investigators determined that the victim was associated with the fire and that his white 2016 Kia Forte was missing.
- Around 6:15 a.m. Monday, deputies spotted the white Kia Forte traveling on Audubon Circle in Belvedere and conducted a traffic stop. Murder suspect Dominique Johnson, 29, and passenger Robert Day III, 24, of Ridge Spring were detained and the vehicle was identified as the Johnson’s missing vehicle.
After questioning, Johnson was booked for murder, grand larceny, weapon possession and a probation violation. Day was charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Additional charges are forthcoming. Day’s mugshot was not available at the time of this post.
Johnson has a long history of arrests in Aiken County. He has previous charges for assault & battery, DUI, use of automobile without permission, unlawful carrying of pistol, grand larceny, failure to stop for blue light, discharging forearms into a dwelling and probation violation. The outcome of those cases is unclear since the S.C. Case Management system was not working on Monday night.
Note: If you have a photo of the victim, please text it to 803-487-3224.
