MERRIWETHER – Edgefield County sheriff's investigators say few details are available in the home invasion shooting that killed a Merriwether man early Saturday.

The homicide is the first for the county this year.

Larry Sanders Jr., 28, died around 12:30 a.m. when a single burglar entered the Eagle Road home through the front door and fired several shots from a large caliber hand gun, authorities say.
One of the bullets hit Sanders in the chest. Sanders' girlfriend was with him at the time but was not injured during the crime, said Cpl. Robbie Harter.

"Right now our investigators are working several leads but we do not have a named suspect at this time," harter said Monday. 

An autopsy conducted on Saturday in Newberry County confirmed that Mr. Sanders died of a single gunshot wound to the left side of the chest.

Harter said investigators have not determined why the burglar opened fire or whether the burglary was done at random. Mr. Sanders’ girlfriend was said to have caught only a glimpse of the burglar.

She described him as a black man with a blue bandana covering his face, Harter added.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office at 803-278-1625 or 803-637-5337. Callers may remain anonymous.

Kyle Martin of Morris News Service contributed to this report.