South Carolina man is accused of murdering mom after cops said he LIED about it being an accident

A mother of nine children killed while looking out the window of her South Carolina home was intentionally shot by a neighbor shooting at targets in his yard instead of by a ricocheting bullet as he told investigators, according to authorities.

The charge against the Nicholas Skylar Lucas, 30, was upgraded to murder on Monday after the death of Kesha Luwan Lucille Tate, 42.

Crime scene technicians determined the fatal bullet could not have deflected at an angle off a satellite dish being used as a target and then struck the woman in the chest, prosecutor Barry Barnette said.

‘You can see that bullet didn’t ricochet. That bullet is in pristine condition,’ Barnette said, showing a judge a photo on his cellphone during a bond hearing in Cherokee County on Monday. He said the slug was removed from the victim’s chest during an autopsy.

Tate, 42, dropped to the floor and died after she was struck by a bullet in her chest when she went to the window to see what was happening when she heard the sound of gunshots, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said.

Lucas, who lives in the home behind Tate, was charged hours later with involuntary manslaughter and shooting under the influence. 

But prosecutors upgraded the charge to murder after more evidence came in, Barnette said. Murder carries 30 years to life in a conviction, while involuntary manslaughter carries up to five years. 

A motive for the horrific killing has not yet been shared.   

Kesha Luwan Lucille Tate, 42, died when a bullet hit her chest after she walked to her window after hearing gunshots, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said, according to the AP

The backdoor of the victim’s home located in Gaffney, South Carolina

The harrowing incident happened on Saturday around 6:30pm in Gaffney, South Carolina, the area is known as the ‘Peach Capital of South Carolina.’

Family members said Tate had just gotten off the phone with her own mother and was about to help one of her younger children cook dinner. While looking out the window of the back door to see where the gunshots were coming from, she dropped to the floor.

Lucas had to turn and intentionally fire in Tate’s direction to hit her and the bullet in Tate’s chest matched the size of the ammunition used in the .45-caliber handgun Lucas was firing, Barnette said.

Tate told the judge the shooting was a “complete accident” and he can´t believe anyone would think he would intentionally kill her.

‘She always asked me for help I was always in my backyard. I’m really confused about this whole situation,’ Tate said. ‘I’ve done all kinds of yard work for this lady and everything.’

The last words Tate uttered, as she lay dying:  ‘Go get help. I love ya’ll,’ WYFF4 News reported.

Markia Tate, a family member said, ‘they had to literally peel the kids off of their mother.’

The loved one said Tate had children as young as four.

Months before the tragedy, family members said that Tate expressed concern about the frequent gunfire that was taking place in the area where her home is located. 

There are approximately 30 homes located in close proximity of one another, a report said. 

Loved ones said the proud mother died surrounded by her children, who were in the home at the time of the shooting, but no one else had been harmed. 

Tate’s mother was distraught, clutching a photo of her daughter, she wept: ‘I thought she was gonna bury me,’ she said, in part. 

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said: ‘it is mind-blowing that a person thinks its alright to target practice or discharge a gun within close proximity of so many other homes in a neighborhood,’ he said. 

Lucas faces up to five years in prison if charged for involuntary manslaughter and up to two years on the misdemeanor shooting under the influence charge, if convicted. 

The family of Tate is distraught of her senseless murder. They want justice for their loved one 

Tate (pictured right second row), a single mother of nine children is picture here with some of her children. Her youngest child is four years old 

On Tate’s Facebook profile she wrote that she is a single and a, ‘mother bf anything blessed team of 11.’      

One of her daughter’s Traleekia Tate created a GoFundMe to raise money for her mother’s funeral expenses. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $3,600 has been raised towards their goal of $6,000.