15-year-old Abby Tyler, the latest victim of South Carolina serial killer

Police fear a serial killer is on the loose after the death of a teenage girl was linked with four other fatal shootings.

Independence Day celebrations in the rural part of South Carolina have been cancelled amid fears a lone gunman is responsible for five deaths in the last week.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler confirmed the latest victim, 15-year-old Abby Tyler, died earlier today.

The teenager was wounded two days ago - and her 45-year-old father Stephen Tyler killed - at their family's furniture and appliance shop near downtown Gaffney.

Police today released a police sketch of the suspected shooter, who is described as tall, in his 40s with 'salt and pepper' hair, driving a Ford Explorer.

Sheriff Bill Blanton said all victims had been shot but would not reveal precisely how the deaths were linked.

He said: 'We're knee-deep in the investigation. There's fear and concern here and there should be concern'

On Wednesday, 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her 50-year-old daughter Gena Linder were found bound and shot to death at their home, seven miles from the scene of the Tyler shootings.

And 63-year-old peach farmer Kline Cash was found dead in his home last Saturday, June 27.

The shootings all occurred within about 10 miles of each other in Cherokee County, a rural community of 54,000 set amid peach orchards and farms about 50 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dozens of local, state and federal investigators have been assigned to the case.

Cherokee County resident Hazel Smith, 47, told the Associated Press news agency: 'If he killed once, he'll kill again.

'Tonight, I'm going to stay inside and pray, pray a little harder that he gets caught.'

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