HORRY COUNTY, SC – A former Socastee High School student who shot at a school resource officer in September 2010 has been released to Horry County under community supervision.
South Carolina Department of Corrections Deputy Director for Communications Stephanie Givens confirmed the release of Christian Helms, now 19, to News13 Thursday night.
According to SCDC inmate paperwork and Givens, Helms’ projected release date was October 29 from Manning Correctional Institution. Givens told News13 the agency “generally releases on the first of the month.”
Helms was a 14-year-old student at Socastee High School when police say he shot at School Resource Officer Erik Karney and brought pipe bombs into the school.
Nearly a year later, Helms entered an Alford Plea on charges of attempted murder and pleaded guilty to two of three possession of destructive devices charges.
A judge sentenced Helms to six years in prison with four years probation after that.
