A deadly encounter last month for a South Carolina ride-share driver was followed by tense weeks of waiting to learn if he would face charges on top of the trauma already survived.
Now there’s good news as authorities with the York County Sheriff’s Office and the Sixteenth Street Solicitor’s Office announced that the driver who successfully defended himself will not face legal persecution.
Situational awareness and a loaded gun likely saved driver’s life
It was just after 3:30 a.m. on July 27 when law enforcement was called to the scene of a shooting at a motel parking lot.
When they arrived, they discovered a man later identified as 23-year-old Kendale Richardson Williams of North Carolina dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Officials detained the ride-share driver who was the evident shooter for further investigation.
The probe determined that Williams had ordered a ride to the Motel 6. Before he exited the car at the drop off site, investigators believe the suspect shot the driver with a stun gun and then attempted to strangle him.
SC law protects good citizens who defend themselves
The driver was ready and had other ideas.
Legally armed, he fired one shot at Williams, and it proved fatal. After interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence at the scene, authorities concluded that the deceased suspect was the initial aggressor and that the driver’s actions aligned with South Carolina’s Protection of Person and Property Act.
This protects good citizens from legal consequences when they resort to potentially deadly force while being attacked.
Being a ride-share driver, especially in the early morning hours, is akin to clerking at a liquor store. Situational awareness is critical, and the South Carolina driver is lucky today that he was armed and ready for the unexpected.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.