The serial killings have led to the cancellation of Independence Day events in Gaffney
Police in a small US town are hunting a serial killer blamed for shooting five people to death in less than a week, leaving residents terrified.
The killing spree, in Gaffney, South Carolina, began on Saturday 27 June, when peach farmer Kline Cash, 63, was gunned down in his living room.
On Wednesday, 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her 50-year-old daughter, Gena Linder Parker, were found bound and shot dead in Linder's home.
And just a day later, Stephen Tyler, 48, and his 15-year-old daughter Abby were shot in the family's furniture store. Tyler died instantly, his daughter two days later.
The unknown attacker has petrified the residents of Gaffney - and left law enforcement officials concerned they may take matters into their own hands.
County Sheriff Bill Blanton has warned door-to-door salesmen to stop knocking and anyone who breaks down on the county's rural roads to wait, instead of walking to a house for help.
Residents have 'guard up, gun handy'
He worries "people are going to start shooting at shadows" as they fear for their own safety.
Residents have "their guard up and their gun handy", said Senator Harvey Peeler, a Republican who represents the area in the state legislature.
"It'll change how you think about things, like you wouldn't lock your door, maybe, or something like that," said Gaffney resident Jody Ledbetter. "There's a lot of peoples keeping their eyes out."
Dozens of local, state and federal investigatorshave been assigned to the case.
Sheriff Blanton says the killings are linked - "yes, we have a serial killer" - but it remains unclear how the victims are linked - or if any of them knew the gunman.
"There's no evidence there is a hit list," Blanton said. "There's no evidence he knows the victims. There's no evidence the victims are connected."
Investigators have released a sketch of the suspect, who they say is in his 40s, about 6ft 2in tall, with salt and pepper hair.
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[headline] => Small-town serial killer guns down five
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Police in a small US town are hunting a serial killer blamed for shooting five people to death in less than a week.
[keywords] => killer, murder, serial killer, gunman, shot, shooting, dead, Gaffney, Carolina
[content] =>
Police in a small US town are hunting a serial killer blamed for shooting five people to death in less than a week, leaving residents terrified.
The killing spree, in Gaffney, South Carolina, began on Saturday 27 June, when peach farmer Kline Cash, 63, was gunned down in his living room.
On Wednesday, 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her 50-year-old daughter, Gena Linder Parker, were found bound and shot dead in Linder's home.
And just a day later, Stephen Tyler, 48, and his 15-year-old daughter Abby were shot in the family's furniture store. Tyler died instantly, his daughter two days later.
The unknown attacker has petrified the residents of Gaffney - and left law enforcement officials concerned they may take matters into their own hands.
County Sheriff Bill Blanton has warned door-to-door salesmen to stop knocking and anyone who breaks down on the county's rural roads to wait, instead of walking to a house for help.
Residents have 'guard up, gun handy'
He worries "people are going to start shooting at shadows" as they fear for their own safety.
Residents have "their guard up and their gun handy", said Senator Harvey Peeler, a Republican who represents the area in the state legislature.
"It'll change how you think about things, like you wouldn't lock your door, maybe, or something like that," said Gaffney resident Jody Ledbetter. "There's a lot of peoples keeping their eyes out."
Dozens of local, state and federal investigatorshave been assigned to the case.
Sheriff Blanton says the killings are linked - "yes, we have a serial killer" - but it remains unclear how the victims are linked - or if any of them knew the gunman.
"There's no evidence there is a hit list," Blanton said. "There's no evidence he knows the victims. There's no evidence the victims are connected."
Investigators have released a sketch of the suspect, who they say is in his 40s, about 6ft 2in tall, with salt and pepper hair.
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