Top Stories

Deputies: Suspect killed himself after murdering Berkeley Co. man

According to the Dorchester Co. Sheriff’s Office, the man who they say killed 24-year-old Drew Shumway of Moncks Corner back in April is also dead.

Pictured: Peter Villa (Courtesy: DCSO)
Pictured: Peter Villa (Courtesy: DCSO)

Sheriff L.C. Knight announced Friday that the suspect, Peter Andrew Villa, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he led North Charleston Police on a chase about two weeks after authorities discovered Shumway’s body.

On April 11th, deputies responded to a trailer located off of Highway 61 in the Givhans community where they found the victim. According to the coroner, Shumway died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head. He had been reported missing from Berkeley Co. just five days earlier.

During an investigation, authorities say they learned that the motive for the murder was armed robbery. In fact, they say cell phone records showed that shortly before Villa murdered Shumway, the two had talked with one another.

Authorities say that records also showed that Villa traveled to the Ridgeville area where the murder took place on the date Shumway was believed to have been shot.

Investigators say a witness later provided them with a statement, claiming that Villa  admitted to killing Shumway.

Deputies say a forensic analysis also showed that the gun Villa used to kill himself was the very one used to kill his victim.

So far, investigators don’t believe there are any other suspects involved in the case.

Prior Story:

Report: Woman checking on furniture finds Moncks Corner man’s body

Coroner: Berkeley Co. man shot to death, left in trailer

Nikki Gaskins Campbell
Follow Me

Comments are closed.