‘Totally avoidable,’: 4-year-old, 19-year-old killed after argument turns into shootout

ROCK HILL, S.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A 4-year-old and a 19-year-old were killed after a fight in a home turned into a shootout, according to police.

Rock Hill police said the 19-year-old and 34-year-old Cedric Creighton got into an argument and started shooting at each other.

Investigators said the gunfire continued outside the home, leaving Creighton injured. The 19-year-old and the 4-year-old inside the home were both killed.

“This is a heartbreaking. The 4-year-old happened to be in the home, caught in the middle basically and when these two individuals felt it necessary to engage in gun violence the result is we have a 4-year-old who lost their life,” Rock Hill police Lt. Michael Chavis said.

Creighton is charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain crimes.

Chavis said this is an avoidable tragedy.

“What we’re talking about is a situation that is totally avoidable. When there is conflict, there are ways to solve it without resorting to gun violence because this is what the result can be,” he said.

Creighton is in the hospital and will be taken to jail once he has recovered from his injuries.