Eight North Charleston police officers and three Charleston County deputies are on administrative leave after an early Wednesday officer-involved shooting left a Charleston man dead.
The incident began about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday at a gas station on Dorchester Road when police responded to reports of multiple shots being fired in the area. Police soon found a man armed with a handgun near the business.
“Several officers arrived on scene and an extensive dialogue began with the subject in an effort to get him to drop his weapon,” according to a North Charleston police statement. “The subject then turned towards the officers and brandished his gun in their direction several times before firing at them. The officers returned fire and immediately began rendering aid to the subject.”
Winston Dunham, 33, of Charleston died about 12:12 a.m. Wednesday at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal.
The law enforcement officers involved in the shooting death were put on administrative leave. Per protocol, the investigation has been turned over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
At least two of the North Charleston police officers involved in the shooting were previously involved in a deadly shooting incident, according to WCSC-TV. Both were cleared of wrongdoing by Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson after a Jan. 16, 2022, officer-involved shooting.
The early Wednesday shooting in North Charleston was the 41st officer-involved shooting in South Carolina this year, but the first for the year involving the North Charleston Police Department and the second involving the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Meanwhile, four Greenville County deputies are also on leave after being involved in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday afternoon.
In other news:
CP NEWS: Christmas tragedy highlights year of traffic deaths. A Christmas Day traffic tragedy in Goose Creek was one of 159 pedestrians killed this year in traffic accidents across the state, officials said. Meanwhile, with the new year approaching, police and activists warn of the increase of drunk drivers.
CP NEWS: Creativity, music, pleasure celebrated in 2023. The creativity and pleasure bubbling from Charleston bands sent music lovers to clubs and performance halls in droves in 2023 to enjoy a post-pandemic year of tunes.
Bill Murray look-alike polar plunge happening on New Year’s. The 10th annual Bill Murray Look-a-like Polar Plunge is taking place on New Year’s Day on Folly Beach, with hundreds of people dressed in costumes of their favorite Bill Murray characters.
IAAM offers free admission honoring Emancipation Day. The International African American Museum is offering all visitors free admission on Jan. 1 in honor of Emancipation Day.
North Charleston nonprofit uses respect to diffuse violence. North Charleston nonprofit Positive Vibes Interrupter to Violence launched a new hotline to stop the cycle of gun violence in North Charleston using a holistic model focused on de-escalating and resolving conflict in each individual situation.
Lowcountry nonprofits working to meet needs of Charleston’s unhoused. The Uplift Charleston organization and the Hope Center are putting in extra work to serve the underprivileged in the Lowcountry to bring more attention to the crisis and say community support is vital to improving the lives of those they serve.
Charleston Housing Authority provides update on public housing. The Charleston Housing Authority is currently tackling the Cooper River Courts Community on America Street in downtown Charleston as part of its plan to redevelop or renovate all 1,407 of its public housing units.
- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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