A 35-year-old Anderson man was charged with murder after deputies say he went to his estranged wife’s apartment before dawn Thursday, chased a man who tried to leave, and shot him multiple times as he sat inside his car nearby. The suspect was taken into custody later that morning and appeared in bond court Friday, where a judge denied his release.
Deputies identified the suspect as Thomas J. Anderson and the victim as Oscar David Barrios Mazariegos, 29. Investigators said the shooting was reported just after 4:20 a.m. on Palmetto Lane, a residential corridor west of downtown. The Anderson County Coroner’s Office pronounced Mazariegos dead at the scene and later said he had been shot several times. In addition to a murder count, Anderson faces a charge of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Authorities described the episode as domestic in nature but did not say whether any protective orders or prior calls to the address existed. Detectives collected shell casings and canvassed nearby buildings for surveillance footage as they began reconstructing the minutes before the gunfire.
According to early summaries shared by investigators, Anderson arrived at his estranged wife’s apartment around 4 a.m. and found another man there. Mazariegos attempted to leave both the unit and the area, deputies said. He got into his vehicle outside the complex, but investigators allege Anderson followed him on foot and opened fire through the car, striking him multiple times. Deputies and EMS responded to reports of shots fired and found the victim mortally wounded in the driver’s seat. A short bulletin went out to patrol units with a suspect description; by late morning, Anderson was detained without incident and taken to the Anderson County Detention Center. No other injuries were reported.
Officials said evidence gathered so far includes witness statements from residents who heard the confrontation, security-camera video being retrieved from the complex, and physical evidence from the scene and the vehicle. Detectives were not immediately able to say how many rounds were fired or specify the caliber of the weapon. They also declined to discuss whether the couple’s separation had been formalized in family court or if any custody disputes existed. The coroner said an autopsy would confirm the number and trajectory of wounds. Investigators said they were examining phone records and recent messages to establish whether any prior contact occurred among the three before the shooting.
Neighbors described a quiet, predawn block until the sound of several quick shots. One resident said he stepped out to see flashing lights as deputies sealed off a stretch of Palmetto Lane with crime-scene tape and placed markers around a sedan with shattered glass. Another neighbor said she had seen deputies at the complex on past calls but had never witnessed a scene as large as Thursday’s response. The apartment cluster sits off a feeder road near retail strips and two smaller side streets, with parking lots that open toward the main drive — a common layout that typically yields several camera angles for detectives to review.
By Friday morning, Anderson appeared in bond court, where a judge denied bond on the murder count after a brief hearing. The court scheduled the case for additional settings while prosecutors prepare formal charging documents. The second count — possession of a weapon during a violent crime — remains attached to the file pending indictment. As with most homicide cases in the county, the matter is expected to move to a preliminary hearing where a judge will decide whether there is probable cause to continue toward trial. The coroner’s office formally identified the victim and listed the manner of death as homicide; a final autopsy report is pending.
Law enforcement routinely flags early-morning shootings with domestic ties for additional review, and officials emphasized that Thursday’s incident appeared isolated. Deputies said there was no ongoing threat to residents in the area after the arrest. The detention center’s online roster listed Anderson as being held without bond on the homicide charge as of Friday afternoon. Authorities did not release the estranged wife’s name, citing the ongoing investigation and victim-witness privacy practices. Detectives encouraged residents who heard or saw anything around 4:15–4:30 a.m. to speak with investigators so they can fill gaps in the timeline, including when the confrontation started inside the apartment and how quickly it moved to the parking lot.
Friends of the victim began gathering digital tributes by midday, sharing photos and messages in Spanish and English. A man who said he worked weekend shifts with Mazariegos described him as “quiet and respectful,” while another acquaintance said he “was saving every dollar for family back home.” A woman who lives across the complex said she heard a car door slam, followed by “three or four shots,” and then silence. She watched deputies pull crime-scene tape from a trunk and string it across the lot before the coroner’s truck arrived. Others recalled seeing technicians photographing the vehicle’s interior and measuring distances from shell casings to the driver’s-side door.
Investigators said they will continue collecting video from the complex and neighboring storefronts, request lab analysis of ballistic evidence, and interview additional witnesses, including residents who may have seen the men before the shooting. The solicitor’s office will review reports from the sheriff’s investigators and the coroner to decide whether to present the case to a grand jury for indictment. If an indictment is returned, an arraignment date would be set in Anderson County court. Officials said updates would be posted through routine releases as records are filed.
As of Saturday, Anderson remained in the Anderson County Detention Center following the bond denial. The next expected milestone is formal charging and a preliminary-hearing date to be placed on the docket in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated January 24, 2026.