The North Charleston Police Department has released a statement regarding a chaotic incident on July 4 in the Chicora-Cherokee community, where multiple people were involved in a violent attack on a police officer.
According to the department, the confrontation unfolded after officers responded to a permitted neighborhood block party at around 8:30 p.m., which had become chaotic due to gunfire and multiple fights breaking out.
Authorities said that before the police arrived, several attendees had begun discharging firearms, and officers had instructed everyone to leave the area in an effort to de-escalate the situation.
Despite these efforts, multiple fights broke out, and additional gunshots were fired, prompting officers to exit their patrol vehicles to separate those involved and restore order.
During the response, multiple officers were assaulted, including two female officers who suffered minor injuries.
The department released photographs showing multiple handguns and what it described as a makeshift spear recovered at the scene, and investigators are still working to determine whether any of the recovered firearms were discharged and whether the makeshift spear was used during the assaults.
Police said no one was injured during the incident, and a video shared online shows a female officer attempting to detain a woman when several people rush in and pull the officer to the ground.
The video then shows the responding officer deploying what appears to be a stun gun on one individual, who retreats, before restraining another person who had been holding the female officer down, allowing her to get back on her feet.
By the end of the clip, at least two people appeared to be in custody.
The department has stated that attacks on law enforcement are unacceptable and that those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Four people have been arrested so far – one adult and three juveniles – and the arrests are related to the assaults on law enforcement seen in the viral videos.
Authorities said they are still determining the charges, and additional arrests are possible as the investigation continues.
The North Charleston Police Department is continuing to investigate the shootings and other criminal activity connected to the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators through the department's CRIMEWATCH app.
