Charleston, South Carolina – Nearly five months after a man died in an officer-involved shooting with Charleston police, authorities released new information and announced that both officers had been cleared.
Andrew Williams, 37, of Charleston, has been identified as the man killed in the November 21, 2024 incident.
The Charleston Police Department provided new information during a critical incident briefing.
A relative of Williams called 911 about the incident, expressing concern because Williams was carrying a gun. According to documents from the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, Williams was arguing with a relative over a hat.
Police responded to the scene on the 600 block of King Street near Line Street around 10 a.m.
Body-worn camera footage shows officers Anthony Vasquez and Darren Schlegal, both members of the Quick Response Team, exiting the police car and making contact with Williams.
The officers can be heard instructing Williams to take his hand out of his pocket, at which point he pulls out a gun, a silver and black 9mm Glock, and points it at Schlegal and two other family members. Investigators later discovered that the gun was loaded, with a bullet in the chamber and several additional live rounds of ammunition.
Internal investigators and SLED agents determined that the officers, along with several civilians in the area, believed they were in danger, so they fired their weapons at Williams until he fell to the ground. According to SLED documents, Williams did not fire his weapon during the incident.
The entire incident, from police exiting the car to the first shot being fired, lasted only seven seconds, according to Stinson.
After incapacitating Williams and securing his gun, police handcuffed him and administered first aid. Stinson claimed officers used multiple chest seals and a tourniquet.
Williams was transported to MUSC in critical condition and died as a result of his injuries.
SLED agents and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office examined all evidence and concluded that neither officer broke the law.
“The SLED agents and I agree that nothing outstanding or pending in their investigation would foreseeably affect my charging decision in this matter,” Solicitor Scarlett Wilson wrote. “The investigating agents agree that the relevant evidence does not provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the involved officers committed any crimes. The evidence shows that the officers reasonably believed they were in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death from Williams. They also reasonably believed that any nearby residents were in danger. Williams presented the firearm in a dangerous and reckless manner, endangering the lives of law enforcement officers and the general public. The officers’ actions met South Carolina’s legal standards.
“A family is grieving, and we recognize that a loss is being felt,” Walker said at the time of the incident. “This is a situation no one wanted; neither our officers, our community, nor the family of the individual that was involved.”
“Our officers faced a split-second decision in a very dangerous situation and they now carry the immense weight of that moment,” Walker told the media. “These incidents remind us of the challenges and significance of public safety work.”
