South Carolina house fire kills six, suspect arrested for trying to murder sole survivor

A South Carolina house fire killed six people and left one in critical condition, leading police to arrest a man for attempted murder.

Colleton County officials said first responders were alerted to a fire in Green Pond at around 11 a.m. on Sunday and upon responding firefighters discovered six bodies inside a burning home.

One survivor was located and airlifted to a local hospital, leading police to charge Ryan Lenard Manigo, 33, for the attempted murder of the victim.

“Additional charges are pending the victims’ identification and autopsy results,” the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Hiram Davis, a spokesperson for the family of the victims, said the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

“Today’s events which occurred in this quiet, nestled community of Green Pond are tragic,” Davis told local WCBD. “We ask everyone to please give law enforcement time to do their jobs.

“We should always be vigilant. We should always have an eye on our surroundings,” he added.

One neighbor, speaking under the condition of anonymity, said he had to pull over five times on the road to let speeding emergency vehicles by, only to discover the cars were heading to his neighbors’ home.

“We don’t have that in this community. No violence to that degree,” the neighbor told WCBD. “God help their souls. This community is better than that.”

Police have yet to release the names and ages of the victims, or say if they had any kind of relationship or connection with Manigo. They have also not said if Manigo is believed to be the one who caused the fire.