An Ehrhardt woman was transported to the Colleton County Hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach and an Ehrhardt man was charged with attempted murder as a result of an alleged drive by shooting in the town of Ehrhardt on Friday night July 8th.

According to a copy of an arrest warrant obtained from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) on Tuesday July 12, 2011, Charles H. Ayer 65, of 6124 Ehrhardt Road, Ehrhardt SC. was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

According to a signed affidavit obtained from SLED dated July 8, 2011, at approximately 11:00 p.m. Charles H. Ayer did commit the offense of attempted murder. According to the affidavit the victim was shot once in the stomach at her residence and was transported to the Colleton County Medical Center. Further investigation revealed that Deputies with the Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office heard the defendant tell others that were at the defendant’s residence that he told the victim that he would get her out the house one way or another.

The defendant further stated that the police told him that he would have to have the victim evicted, but he was going to handle it his way. Investigation also revealed that after the defendant shot into the residence he gave the weapon used to another person to hide on his behalf.

“This is an open SLED investigation and it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment further at this time,” Maj. Richard E. Hunton Jr. of SLED said Tuesday in a phone interview.

The Advertizer-Herald was informed Tuesday that Charles H. Ayer posted bond and was released from the Bamberg County Detention Center. Sources also report that the victim of the shooting was released from the hospital.