Police had a busy Monday evening near Beaufort’s Walmart store, responding to two distinct shooting incidents, the second of which resulted in the arrest of a father and son. There were no gunshot injuries reported.
The first reported incident, which involved roughly three bullets, occurred minutes before 5 p.m. Monday and was “related to an alleged road rage incident,” according to Beaufort Police Department Lt. Lori Reeves. There were no suspects identified.
Around 7:40 p.m., another round of approximately four gunshots was reported from the same parking lot. According to Reeves, the altercation stemmed from a “previous incident” that occurred outside of Beaufort police jurisdiction.
Police said Beaufort resident John Michael Findlay, 52, fired the rounds while targeting a victim’s vehicle. There were no gunshot wounds reported, although the vehicle was hit by gunfire.
Findlay’s 20-year-old son was also detained for reportedly smashing out the driver’s side window and assaulting the driver, according to Reeves.
Findlay was charged with discharging weapons within Beaufort city limits, as well as two charges of aggravated assault and battery. His son is charged with deliberate injury to property and misdemeanor assault and battery.
Findlay was granted cash bonds totaling $51,087.50 but had not posted bail by noon on Tuesday, according to Beaufort County court records.
His kid was freed from jail Tuesday morning on personal recognizance bonds of $3,212.50, which meant he would not have to pay the money unless he broke court orders.
