Full Notification

Case History
 

Last Tuesday night, December 3, 2019, at approximately 8:50 pm, Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired on Murray Avenue, Hilton Head Island. When deputies met with witnesses at the scene, they learned that unknown subjects had fired guns on Murray Avenue, striking a home and parked vehicles multiple times. Fortunately, none of the seven occupants of the home were wounded. It was also learned that the subjects attempted to flee the area in a vehicle, but, after only getting a short distance away from Murray Avenue, drove the vehicle into a ditch. The subjects then abandoned the disabled getaway vehicle and fled the area on foot. The subjects were not located.

Sheriff's Office investigators were contacted and responded to the Murray Avenue scene to process for forensic evidence and conduct additional interviews. On the ground near the victims' Murray Avenue home and vehicles, investigators located and collected multiple cartridge casings. Investigators also found cartridge casings in the vehicle that the subject abandoned in the ditch on Squire Pope Road. In the days that followed the incident, investigators identified two male subjects involved in the shooting: 20-year-old James Howard of Bluffton and 21-year-old Carter Mosco of Hilton Head Island.

Arrest of James Howard/Obtaining of Arrest Warrants 

Yesterday, investigators met with James Howard at the Sheriff's Office substation on Hilton Head Island, where he was interviewed regarding his involvement in last Tuesday's shooting incident. Following his interview, Howard was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime and Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling. Howard was transported to the Beaufort County Detention Center and incarcerated.

This morning, investigators met with a Beaufort County magistrate and presented the facts of the case. After reviewing the case, the magistrate issued warrants for the arrest of James Howard and Carter Mosco for seven counts each of Attempted Murder, one count each of Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime and one count each of Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling.

Also this morning, James Howard's bond was set at $225,000 for the three offenses that he was charged with following his interview last night. As of the time of this advisory, Howard remained incarcerated. Howard will be served with the six additional warrants for Attempted Murder and will have a bond set for those offenses in the near future.   

Be on the Lookout for Wanted Subject Carter Mosco
 

Carter Mosco remains at large for the nine arrest warrants in connection with last Tuesday's shooting incident: seven counts of Attempted Murder, one count of Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime and one count of Discharging a Firearm into a Dwelling. We are asking anyone with information on Mosco's whereabouts to please call Sheriff's Office Dispatch at 843-524-2777. Mosco is Caucasian, 6'04" tall, 190 pounds, blond hair and brown eyes. Attached is a recent photograph of Carter Mosco. 

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office appreciates your partnership and continued commitment to the safety of our community.