South Congaree, SC (Paul Kirby) – South Congaree Police Chief Josh Shumpert says he and his staff, along with crime scene technicians from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, have gathered enough facts and evidence after Saturday night’s shooting to present their findings to the solicitor’s office. Shumpert said once he’s done that, the solicitor will help decide what, if any, charges will be filed against anyone involved in the case.
Shumpert said the situation was complicated from the start. The chief said there had been an ongoing situation between family members and their friends or companions over a piece of property. Saturday, it came to a head and a man was shot several times. He is expected to survive.
“Because this case has a lot of intricate ins and outs, I felt it best to wait until Monday so I could consult with the solicitor and let him help us decide if any charges were warranted,” Chief Shumpert said. “If that office recommends charging someone, it will be up to them to help us decide just what those charges will be.”
Chief Shumpert said he realized that emotions were running high, especially in people who are friends and family of the ones involved in this case; however, he would not allow public opinion to dictate the direction of his investigation. “We are here to follow the evidence and facts to their logical conclusion by performing a thorough investigation into what occurred. We can not let the noise on social media or anywhere else come into play in our effort to get to the bottom of things.” Shumpert concluded by saying, “The most important thing the general public needs to know right now is they are in no danger when it comes to the people involved in this case.”
