UPDATE, 4:57 p.m., March 27, 2025: The Aiken County Coroner’s Office is investigating Thursday’s shooting at a home on Walnut Court as a murder-suicide.

Coroner Darryl Ables said the homeowner, 71-year-old Keith Jones, was found with a
self-inflicted gunshot wound. His girlfriend, 67-year-old Kathy Hydrick was found in the kitchen with a gunshot wound to the body. Both were pronounced deceased at 12:05 p.m.

According to the coroner’s office, Hydrick will be autopsied in Newberry on Friday. No autopsy is scheduled for Jones.

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. () – Aiken County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on the Walnut Court in North Augusta for a reported shooting incident, shortly before 10 a.m. on Thursday.

When deputies and went inside the home, they found two individuals deceased from what
appeared to be at least one gunshot wound.

There are no indications of any danger to the community due to this incident.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the North Augusta Department of Public Safety during the incident.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the Aiken County Coroner’s Office will continue to
investigate this incident.

NewsChannel 6 has a crew on the way to the scene, we’ll share more information as it becomes available.