Monday, March 21, 2011

Garden City, SC: Garden City woman shot, killed; husband charged with murder

Police say shooting was accidental

By Kurt Knapek - kknapek@thesunnews.com

A 53-year-old Garden City Beach woman who worked at a pet store and loved to play bingo was accidentally shot and killed by her husband while he was involved in a dispute with another family member in their home early Sunday morning, police said.
Cheryl Gillespie was shot once and pronounced dead at the scene, said Horry County Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler.
Her husband, Gary Allan Gillespie, 59, was arrested shortly after the shooting, which occurred just after midnight at the couple's home on East Surfwind Drive, said Lt. Raul Denis of Horry County police.

A woman was shot and killed early Sunday in her Garden City Beach home.

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He is charged with murder.
Denis said Gary Gillespie was using a firearm to assault another family member at the home when the gun went off, killing his wife.
Denis said the family member, who he did not name, struck Gary Gillespie in the head and body after the shooting. Gillespie has a bruised right eye and a swollen left cheek in his jail booking photo.
The Gillespies lived with their three sons - Anthony, Zack and Joshua - at their home.
"Bingo and cigarettes ... that was my mom," said Zack Gillespie. "She's always been there for me and us. She was nice to everyone."
Zack Gillespie said his mother "was holding our family together."
Gary Gillespie is being held without bond at J. Reuben Long Detention Center. His bond will be set by a circuit court judge at a later date.
"This is so tragic," said Thomas Hood, 24, a neighbor. "She would do anything for anybody ... give the shirt off her back."

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