Authorities have announced that last night’s double-shooting on the Ravenel Bridge appears to be the result of an apparent suicide pact between the victims.
Thursday evening, officers responded to reports of injured parties in the pedestrian lane of the Ravenel Bridge. After arriving on the scene, officers discovered 30-year-old William Charles Best Jr. of Ladson/Summerville and 24-year-old Lindsey Bedenk of Colorado slumped over with two handguns at their sides. Both parties were transported to MUSC to receive medical attention for severe trauma where they later died. Autopsies on both victims found that they sustained injuries from self-inflicted gunshot wounds consistent with placing the weapons in their mouths and firing one time.
“I don’t anticipate there being any real changes in these findings, but, again, we have some things we’re continuing to take a look at,” said Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten.
Police have located two suicide notes and a video from the victims bidding goodbye to their loved ones. The two are believed to have met while receiving counseling for mental health issues.
“They developed a friendship, and for reasons we may never know, entered into what we believe is a suicide pact that they carried out last night on the bridge,” said Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Carl Ritchie.
Ritchie further clarified that authorities believe this to be an isolated incident, and no other individuals are believed to be involved.
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