Woman killed in St. Stephen shooting

ST. STEPHEN - A young mother of four died after a barrage of bullets was fired into her apartment here early this morning, authorities and family members said.

Kimberly Jones had lived in one of the brick buildings at the Foxcreek Apartments on 260 Ravenell Drive for the past few years, said Carmen Mayes, one of her sisters. Jones was inside apartment 3D when numerous gunshots struck a window from outside a few minutes before 2 a.m.

"It's hard to explain to the children that their mother is never coming back," Mayes said. "Her life ended tragically and her family wants to know why."

The family had not received any information about what had happened as of midday.

St. Stephen Police Chief John Waters was not available for comment at the scene.

Mayes implored anybody with information about the crime to come forward. Neighbors she spoke to told her they had all been asleep at the time.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office sent its forensics team to assist, said Dan Moon, the sheriff's public information officer.

Evidence markers showed 13 holes around a window at the apartment on the side of the complex closest to Ravenell Drive, another name for S.C. Highway 45 in St. Stephen.

Jones died at Medical University Hospital about 5:30 a.m., Berkeley County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Salisbury said. Paramedics had rushed her to the hospital after responding to the complex at 1:57 a.m. An autopsy was scheduled today.

Salisbury was unable to confirm whether Jones had been asleep or awake at the time of her injuries.

Mayes said that her sister was one of seven siblings and described her as, "just a young mother trying to take care of her children."

Jones had grown up in St. Stephen and graduated from Timberland Highschool. She attended Denmark Technical College and was most recently working at the Citi Trends clothing store in Moncks Corner.

The children lived with her and ranged in age from 5 months to 5 years old, Mayes said. The family was close and enjoyed going to cookouts together. They often took the children to water parks.

Check Charleston.net for more details later today.