South Carolina Man Claims Crossbow Accidentally Fired While He Was in Another Room — Girlfriend Found Dead With Arrow in Her Head

A South Carolina man is facing criminal charges after authorities discovered his girlfriend dead inside their home with a crossbow arrow lodged in her head. The boyfriend, 37-year-old Bradley Thompson, allegedly told police that the woman had taken her own life, claiming the crossbow had discharged while he was in another room. But investigators launched a deeper examination of the circumstances surrounding her death, and Thompson was eventually charged in connection with the incident.

Deputies with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office were called to a residence in Lugoff, South Carolina, at approximately 7:45 p.m. on October 9, 2026, following a report of a possible suicide. When officers arrived, they found the woman dead with a crossbow bolt through her head. Thompson, who was at the property, told investigators that his girlfriend had killed herself. According to an incident report obtained by local news outlet WIS, he described a series of events that allegedly led to the fatal injury.

Thompson reportedly told police that he and his girlfriend had been planning to go hunting with his crossbow. The couple allegedly got into an argument, after which he left the weapon in the bedroom with an arrow loaded. He then went into the living room. Thompson claimed that while he was in the other room, he suddenly heard the crossbow discharge. When he returned to the bedroom to investigate, he said he found his girlfriend with the arrow lodged in her head. His account has not been established as fact, and investigators have continued examining how the weapon was fired and what happened before the woman’s death.

As the investigation progressed, authorities spoke with members of the woman’s family. According to police information cited in court reporting, relatives told investigators that Thompson had a history of abusing both the woman and her child. These statements became part of the broader inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death. However, authorities have not publicly released further details explaining whether the alleged history of abuse directly relates to the crossbow incident or what additional evidence investigators may have uncovered.

Thompson was charged with assisting a person in committing suicide, a felony offense under South Carolina law. Court records also show that he faces separate charges involving tattooing a minor and cruelty to children. The cases were reportedly filed on the same day, although authorities have not confirmed whether those allegations are connected to the death investigation. Thompson turned himself in on October 31 and was booked into the Kershaw County Detention Center. He later posted $47,500 bond and was released. His next court date had not been publicly listed in the latest reports.

The case remains troubling because of the unanswered questions surrounding the weapon, the couple’s argument and the woman’s final moments. Investigators from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office worked with the county coroner and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division as they examined the death. For now, Thompson’s explanation remains an allegation that must be assessed alongside the evidence. He has not been convicted in connection with the case, and authorities have not publicly announced a final determination about the exact circumstances of the woman’s death.

Source: Law&Crime