EXCLUSIVE: Father Of Slain Girl Talks About Loss

In an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 7's Jonathan Carlson, the father of slain 8 year old Heather Brooke Center, spoke about the pain he and his family are dealing with.

This, after Brooke, as her family calls her, was shot 4 times in the head and back, at a home in Spartanburg County Wednesday. Deputies say it stemmed from domestic issues.

Bobby Center, Brooke's father described the beautiful young girl:

"She was special from the day she was born."

"Really really had the whole world ahead of her. I think Brooke would have made a very very wonderful adult as she grew older--and she was robbed of that."

"Everyone that knew her--she just lit their life up. She was just a very special."

He continued, "Who would expect a beautiful little 8 year old girl to be harmed in this way--it just doesn't make any sense to me."

"Her room is still just like we left it--and we intend on leaving it that way."

The family has set up a memorial fund in her memory and in her name at any Wachovia branch in the Upstate.

SOLICITOR GOWDY SEEKS THE DEATH PENALTY FOR SUSPECTED CHILD KILLER

7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy will seek the death penalty for a man suspected of shooting a child to death.
An investigator for the Solicitor’s Office served written notice on Ricky Lee Blackwell at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center this afternoon. The murder and kidnapping defendant is recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound that occurred moments after he shot 8-year-old Heather Brooke Center to death Wednesday afternoon at a Ridings Road home. Witnesses reported that Blackwell placed the child in a headlock and shot her once in the head. He proceeded to shoot her at least three more times while she was falling to the ground.
“The paradigm we have always used is three fold - the circumstances of the crime, the character of the defendant and the impact the crime has on the community as a whole,” Solicitor Gowdy said. “The execution of a child shocks the conscience of this community and warrants seeking of society’s ultimate punishment.”
Solicitor Gowdy decided to seek the death penalty after talking with Sheriff Chuck Wright, Coroner Rusty Clevenger and other investigators who worked the crime scene yesterday.
A timeline for the prosecution will be established once Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal assigns a judge to preside over the case.

Updated July 9, 3:45 p.m.
Solicitor Trey Gowdy has served written notice on Ricky Lee Blackwell that the state will seek the death penalty against Blackwell for the murder of 8-year old Heather Center.

"The execution of an 8-year old child, if that doesn't warrant the seeking of society's ultimate punishment, then we might as well do away with the death penalty." Gowdy said.

Updated July 9, 2:00 p.m.

Ricky Blackwell's daughter, Heather Bryant says it was her home where the shooting happened Wednesday. She was her husband was at home with their kids while she was at the grocery store.
She says she can't believe that her father would shoot someone. She says he has been nothing but a kind and loving man, loves children and has never been violent.

Ricky Lee Blackwell's criminal record only shows one conviction. He was convicted of grand larceny in 1981 when he was 21 years old.

She says she believes that her father was "possessed" and just snapped because of all the emotional trauma her mother has put him through. She says her mother left her father for another man and that her father was still in love with her.

Heather says she says Brooke was a sweet girl and did not deserve to be dragged into that situation. She partially blames her mom is to blame.

Blackwell is still in the hospital after police say he shot himself in the abdomen.

Updated July 8, 11:30 p.m.
An 8-year-old girl was shot and killed, caught in the middle of a domestic argument between a man and his estranged wife.

Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a domestic related shooting at 244 Ridings Road in northern Spartanburg County Wednesday afternoon about 3:00 PM.

Upon arrival deputies found 8-year-old Heather Brooke Center, dead from gunshot wounds, lying on the ground outside the residence.

The child would have been a third grader in the next school year at Reidville Elementary, according to family.

The girl's aunt told us, "We don't know why this happened...Why would somebody want to hurt a baby...she didnt do anything to nobody."

Witnesses told deputies that the suspect, identified as Ricky Lee Blackwell, 49 years old, of 248 Ridings Road, Chesnee, fled the scene just moments before they arrived, running in the direction of 248 Ridings Road.

Deputies began a search of the area for Blackwell and located his residence.

Blackwell, who was armed with a handgun, ignored deputies instructions to drop his weapon. Instead the suspect shot himself one time in the abdomen. Blackwell was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center where he was treated for his injury. Family members of Blackwell say he had recently lost his job, and along with the loss of his wife, just "snapped".

Witnesses told investigators that Blackwell’s estranged wife brought the child to Ridings Road so she could play with other children already at the home. Shortly after their arrival Ricky Blackwell took the child from a vehicle and shot her, in the back and neck, at least 4 times. The young child was the daughter of the estranged wife's new boyfriend.

Ricky Lee Blackwell has been charged with Murder and Kidnapping in connection with this. No one else was injured during this incident. Upon his release from the hospital Blackwell will be transported to the Spartanburg County Detention Center.

To hear what Sheriff Chuck Wright has to say about the shooting click here.