Funeral services set for former Hardeeville fire chief slain in Thursday shooting

Funeral services for the 77-year-old former Hardeeville fire chief killed by a gunman early Thursday will be Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church in Hardeeville.

The family of Ernest Martin Stevens will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m. The service is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the church located at 11 Randall St. A burial will follow at Maye River Cemetery in Bluffton.

Meanwhile, the search for the gunman suspected of shooting Stevens to death continued Friday afternoon, said Raven Favor, media specialist for the City of Hardeeville.

Stevens, who died from multiple gunshot wounds around 9 a.m. in a parking lot off Ulman Street, was well-known in the community. He was found inside his blue Ford pickup truck, according to Hardeeville Police Chief Sam Woodward.

“I actually had breakfast with him (Wednesday) morning at the men’s breakfast at church here in town,” Woodward said during a Thursday afternoon news conference. “It’s a sad day in Hardeeville. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

A motive for the shooting has not been determined, Woodward said. On Thursday, police were reviewing surveillance footage in the area in an attempt to identify the shooter, described as a young black male between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet in height.

The suspect might have short dreadlocks and wore a long, black shirt and jean shorts at the time of the shooting, police said.

Investigators were unsure on Thursday whether the man left the scene on foot or drove away in a vehicle.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Hardeeville Police at 843-784-6668 or 911.

This story was originally published August 11, 2017 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Funeral services set for former Hardeeville fire chief slain in Thursday shooting."