DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC (WCSC) – A woman is seeking justice for the death of her 27-year-old brother, claiming her father was responsible for his death.

Dorchester County Sheriff’s officers responded to a home in the 200 block of Cone Lane in Summerville around 3 a.m. on June 26. When they arrived, Ronald McDonald reportedly screamed that his son, Cody McDonald, had been shot on the porch.

According to an incident report, while CPR was being performed on Cody McDonald, a deputy attempted to detain his father. The father reacted aggressively, was taken to the ground, restrained, and placed in the back seat of the deputy’s vehicle.

Cody’s sister Bridget Dubois said that when she heard the news of her brother’s death, she rushed to her grandmother’s house, where she found Ronald covered in blood.

“I asked my dad and he told me a story that doesn’t make sense to me: that Cody came into the house and hit him, but he had no marks on him,” Dubois said. “He (Ronald) said he pulled the trigger by accident, and that’s not the case. I don’t believe that, not after seeing what I saw.”

There were bullet holes all over the house and blood on the walls and floor.

“I’m trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together because pulling a trigger is a lot different than just holding it,” Dubois said. “What I’m saying is, it takes effort, and when you see the number of bullet holes in that trailer, your jaw will drop. It’s ridiculous.”

After visiting the crime scene and speaking to her father, Dubois is convinced that Ronald murdered Cody.

“I really want justice for my brother. I know it’s my father,” Dubois said. “I lost not one family member that day, but two, because I no longer consider him a murderer. If he’s just walking down the street when he shouldn’t be, who’s to say he wouldn’t kill me?”

However, the investigation into the death is still ongoing and although Ronald McDonald is named as a suspect in the incident report, no arrests or charges have been filed, according to the sheriff’s office.

And the June incident wasn’t the first time police responded to the location. The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office responded to the same address on October 1, 2023, when neighbors reported gunshots.

Ronald McDonald stated that there was a disagreement between him and his son about why he accidentally fired a .20-caliber shotgun into the air, according to an incident report.

Ronald McDonald said he did not know the money was loaded and he wanted to scare his son so that he would respect him since they lived together.

“It was devastating and I don’t think it’s fair,” Dubois said. “There are other people who probably got locked up for less money and you’re telling me my brother isn’t getting justice because he (Ronald) told a sad story.”

Ronald McDonald also has an extensive criminal history as a convicted felon with charges including drug possession, domestic violence, traffic violations, fraud, and intentionally making a false statement.

Dubois not only wants justice, but also wants her 27-year-old brother’s life to be remembered.

“He (Cody) was so goofy. He worked very hard and loved to joke around with me,” Dubois said. “And he adored his nieces, I mean, he adored them.”

Ronald McDonald did not respond to requests for comment on the story.

“I want justice for my brother and I don’t know how to go about it,” Dubois said. “I have enough evidence, or people, I mean, everything, that he shouldn’t even be free right now, and that’s scary.”

The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office was asked multiple times for comment on the investigation and did not provide any further comment other than to say it is an open investigation.

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