On the evening of approximately March 21, 2023, around 10 P.M., Charles Slacks Jr. entered the home he co-owned with his ex-wife Aletha Holliday at the 100 block of Whitetail Circle in the Woodridge subdivision in Sumter, South Carolina, using a key. Upon discovering his ex-wife speaking with her 38-year-old male co-worker, Sergeant Major Carlos Evans, in the backyard, Slacks shot and killed Evans. He then went inside the home and shot and killed all three children — 5-year-old Aayden Holliday-Slacks, 6-year-old Aason Holliday-Slacks, and 11-year-old Ava Holliday — as they slept in their beds. Slacks was the biological father of Aayden and Aason and the stepfather of Ava. After killing the children, Slacks shot and killed himself in front of Holliday, who witnessed the suicide. The incident resulted in five deaths total.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Both documents explicitly describe the children being shot and killed. The WIS article states the children "were shot and killed on Tuesday by Holliday's ex-husband, Charles Slacks, Jr." and that "Slacks shot Evans, went inside, and later shot and killed the children."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The WIS article states that the children "were shot and killed on Tuesday by Holliday's ex-husband, Charles Slacks, Jr." The State article confirms they were "shot and killed" while "they slept in their beds." Being shot constitutes an inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The State article explicitly states that "Holliday witnessed her ex-husband Charles Slacks Jr. shoot and kill himself in her Sumter home after he shot and killed" the three children. This describes a murder-suicide: Slacks murdered the children (and Carlos Evans) and then killed himself.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The WIS article states that "Slacks were the father to Aayden and Aason." Charles Slacks Jr. was the biological father of two of the three children he killed, 5-year-old Aayden Holliday-Slacks and 6-year-old Aason Holliday-Slacks.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The WIS article states that Slacks was "stepfather to Ava." Charles Slacks Jr. was the stepfather of 11-year-old Ava Holliday. He was also the ex-husband of the children's mother, Aletha Holliday. As stepfather, he was a male paramour/stepfather figure involved in the death.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
While the term "domestic violence" is not explicitly used, the circumstances clearly describe an act of domestic/intimate partner violence. The WIS article describes the perpetrator as the mother's "ex-husband" who entered the home he "co-owned with Holliday using a key," discovered her speaking with a male co-worker, and then shot and killed the co-worker and the children. This pattern of a former intimate partner entering the family home and committing homicide constitutes domestic violence.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details not fully captured by the preceding questions: (1) The perpetrator, Charles Slacks Jr., entered the home using a key to a property he co-owned with his ex-wife, as stated in the WIS article: "Slacks entered the home he co-owned with Holliday using a key." (2) A fourth adult victim, 38-year-old Sergeant Major Carlos Evans, was also killed; The State article confirms "Carlos Evans, 38, also died in the shooting." (3) The children were killed while sleeping: The State article states the perpetrator "shot and killed 5-year-old Aayden Holliday-Slacks, 6-year-old Aason Holliday-Slacks and their 11-year-old half-sister, Ava Holliday, as they slept in their beds." (4) The mother witnessed the perpetrator's suicide: "Police say Holliday witnessed her ex-husband Charles Slacks Jr. shoot and kill himself in her Sumter home." (5) The total death toll was five people, making this a mass shooting and murder-suicide that included the perpetrator, a bystander co-worker, and three children.
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