RESET Leadership Reviews Officer Involved Shooting

RESET is an organization of Charleston clergy and community advocates who serve as liaison to the Charleston Police Department (CPD) and the community-at-large to build relationships throughout our community. Through compassionate caring, we seek to foster peace and calm when we encounter situations that can, or have already resulted in injury and/or death. We are especially concerned when it is an officer-involved incident.

On November 2, 2018 such an incident occurred at the Orchard Manor Housing Complex that resulted in the loss of a life as CPD officers worked diligently to de-escalate a life-threatening situation. 

On scene, the officers encountered a domestic violence situation involving a knife being held to the throat of a pregnant woman. Four members of RESET reviewed the bodycam footage of the incident and found the following: 
After repeated directives from the officers to drop the knife, the suspect continuously refused to drop the knife, taunting the officers to shoot him. The hostage was still being held in a tight grip in front of the suspect.  The hostage was heard saying,  You re hurting me.” 
After repeated attempts by CPD officers to de-escalate the situation and talk the suspect into dropping the knife, he persistently pressed the knife firmly against the hostage's throat, all the while arguing belligerently.  When it became clear to officers that the suspect would not comply, shots were fired. While no one can really know what was on the suspect's mind, it was apparent from the camera footage that his intention was to kill the hostage. 

At no time did the deceased suspect drop the knife or release his hostage even after being shot. She wrangled free and ran away. The knife was removed from the deceased's suspect hand by an officer. 

The bodycam footage was reviewed several times from various angles. It was the unanimous decision of the RESET members that the CPD officers acted in an appropriate manner. In an effort to save the life of the woman and her unborn child, shots were fired, removing the threat and saving two lives. 

Rev. Roberta Smith, Chair