Loris man arrested in connection with Christmas murder

A 50-year-old Loris man was arrested in connection with the murder of a 40-year-old man on Christmas night in the Loris area.

Darrell D. Doctor of Loris died at the scene around 11:25 p.m. from a gunshot to the head, said Tony Hendrick, deputy coroner with the Horry Coroner’s Office.

Horry County police were called about the incident by Loris Police Department officers around 11:30 p.m. to the 2900 block of Kennedy Street. Officers discovered a man lying in the roadway unresponsive, according to authorities. .

Two of the victim’s family members were on scene when police arrived and were trying to aid the victim, authorities said.

Loris Police Department officers said Roger Dale Grate was detained, and a handgun was discovered on scene, the report states.

Horry County police set up a perimeter and began canvassing the area for evidence, along with interviewing nearby residents and bystanders, but those interviews did not yield statements, according to the report.

Grate was booked into the J. Reuben Detention Center on Monday, records show.

He is charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to the jail website.

Grate went before a judge for a first appearance, but his bond has not been set as a circuit court judge must set bond on a murder charge. He remains jailed at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

This story was originally published December 28, 2016 at 8:52 AM with the headline "Loris man arrested in connection with Christmas murder."