UPDATE: Arrests made in Utica homicide

Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw says two teenagers are behind bars, charged with murder in the death of a Washington State man. Arrested and charged are 18 year-old James William Toward of 23 Ames Street, Seneca, and 16 year-old Donte Robert Bacon of 2309 Ashton Street in Seneca. Both have been charged with Murder, First Degree Burglary, Kidnapping, Possession of a Weapon During Commission of a Violent Crime, and Grand Larceny. Police were called to 24 Ames Street in the Utica Mill village near Seneca at around 7:35 Thursday morning where they found 32 year-old Scott Andrew Johnston, of Pullman, Washington, dead from gunshot injuries sustained in an apparent home invasion. Johnston’s female friend, Jody Corley, was injured in the shooting, but was able to place a call to police, despite being tied up by the intruders. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jimmy Watt says the suspects fled the scene when Corley called police. Watt says Johnston was shot in the chest with a handgun and added the suspects also reportedly stole three electric guitars from the scene. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation and more charges in unrelated crimes are pending.