North Charleston man arrested, charged in shooting

Police arrested an 18-year-old South Carolina man after an early-morning shooting in North Charleston. The incident allegedly occurred just before 7:30 a.m., according to the North Charleston Police Department.

When police responded to a report of shots fired between Gravely Avenue and Helm Avenue, they spoke with a female witness who described a young African-American man with dreadlocks who was driving a four-door sedan and armed with an assault rifle.

According to the witness, the young man jumped out of the sedan and began firing on a male victim. Police were able to locate the victim, who gave them a description of the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle. The victim was not particularly surprised about the incident and cited an “ongoing dispute” with the suspect’s family.

Armed with a description of the suspect and his vehicle, police headed to the location where the car was parked. They then made contact with the suspect’s family and learned that the suspect was indeed in the residence.

When the police made contact with the suspect, he denied any involvement in the shooting; he claimed he had been in the residence all night. When a family member contradicted this this, however, police took the man into custody. A search of the residence revealed an assault rifle hidden behind a washing machine.

The victim then positively identified the suspect through a show-up identification, a procedure police use in the field when identification is in close proximity to the alleged incident. The suspect is charged with attempted murder and weapons charges.

Any type of assault charge can carry significant legal penalties. Anyone who finds themselves in a similar legal situation would be wise to consult an attorney with experience in these types of cases. Without experienced legal counsel, the outcome is often far more severe for the defendant.