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4 teens in custody in slaying of 19-year-old Lancaster father

LANCASTER, S.C. — Police have arrested four teenagers in connection with the shooting death of a 19-year-old man last month in Lancaster, South Carolina. Investigators also revealed that the homicide is linked to the shooting death of another Lancaster teenager.

Officers responded around 9:15 p.m. April 11 to a report of a shooting at the Caroline Court Apartments on Caroline Court and found a black SUV riddled with bullet holes.

[RELATED: 19-year-old father shot, killed in Lancaster; no arrests made]

As officers investigated, Mar'Quise Evans, 19, walked from behind an apartment building and collapsed on the ground.

Police said Evans had been shot several times and died at the scene.

Police on Monday announced the arrests of two 17-year-olds, Keshawn Cunningham and La'Jameion Hood, as well as an unnamed 15-year-old.

Leon Caskey Jr., 19, turned himself in Monday afternoon after authorities announced that they were searching for him in connection with the shooting death.

(Cunningham, Hood, Caskey Jr.)

Cunningham is charged with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and possession of a firearm by a person under 18.

Caskey is charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

Hood and the 15-year-old are charged with accessory before the fact of murder.

Police said they're confident there will be more arrests in the case. Police Chief Scott Grant said getting people to help them has been one of the biggest challenges.

[IMAGES: Police investigating homicide in Lancaster]

"A lot of these folks involved in this are very young, and they're scared of what's going on," Grant said. "That makes them reluctant to come forward."

Police said they've determined a motive in Evans' murder, but won't release it yet. Evans' friends told Channel 9 that he had a 1-year-old son.

Connection to another Lancaster teenager's shooting death

Investigators told Channel 9 that Evans' homicide is linked to the killing of 17-year-old Allen Cooper, a student and basketball player at Lancaster High School.

[PAST COVERAGE: Family of slain Lancaster High School basketball star: 'He was a good kid']

Cooper was killed after leaving a church basketball game on Meeting Street, authorities said. Police have described the incident as a shootout between rival gangs.

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(Allen Cooper / Facebook)

Grant said the community should be outraged at the age of the people involved.

"It's not just that we have two dead kids. If we want these two young men's deaths to stand for anything, let's let it stand for the end," Grant said.

No charges have been filed in Cooper's death. Lancaster police are still seeking tips on both crimes.

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