Mom charged with shooting ex-boyfriend as he checked on their child, deputies say

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - A mother is facing charges after she allegedly shot her ex-boyfriend while their young child was present.

Officials say Khila Wood, 29, has been charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and unlawful conduct toward a child.

According to an incident report from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to Audrey Lane on Thursday around 7 p.m. in reference to a reported gunfire alert.

While units were responding to the location, deputies said they received a second alert for a reported shooting near the same area of the first alert.

When deputies arrived, they say they found a witness saying “she shot him,” and two pools of blood at the scene.

Investigators believe Wood and the victim were arguing when Wood allegedly struck the victim in the head with a gun. The two then struggled over the weapon.

The incident report says the victim went to the vehicle to check on their child, and Wood then shot him.

The child, under the age of 3, is with a grandmother and is unharmed.

“It’s the worst part, because in any domestic, it’s always the child that gets the brunt of everything,” Ryan Mosler, who lives near the shooting location, said.

Deputies say the pair left the scene together. The victim was later dropped off at a hospital to be checked out.

Wood reportedly then called deputies, leading to her arrest.

Mosler, who has lived in the area for about three years, says while this incident is disturbing, he doesn’t feel unsafe in the neighborhood.

“I don’t usually lock the door when I go on a walk just because everything is cool here,” he said. “It’s quiet. Nobody bothers each other. But, you know, things do happen. Can’t control that.”

Wood appeared before a judge on Friday afternoon and was granted a $125,000 surety bond.

Wood cannot have contact with the victim and is required to wear a GPS monitor.