Man engaged in gun battle with Summerville officers during Friday standoff, chief says

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A 51-year-old man who barricaded himself inside a Summerville home also engaged in a so-called gun battle with officers before he was found dead, officials said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

Police say it all began when the suspect fled from a Friday afternoon traffic stop on Highway 78 near Iris Street, struck a patrol car, and then ran into his home in the Robynwyn neighborhood. He was allegedly armed with a handgun.

Summerville Police Chief Doug Wright said the department’s crisis intervention team arrived soon after and initiated contact with the suspect by phone. SWAT was also activated and deployed to the Lilac Drive home.

A robot was deployed to the side of the home, and tear gas was sent inside after communications between the suspect and officers stopped.

Chief Wright said the suspect later started firing rounds from his home on the same side where the robot was located. The robot was struck and incapacitated. Officers did not return fire.

SWAT advised the home was on fire around 4:01 p.m.

“When the home was on fire, we were very concerned because we did know, based on the information we were provided, that there was a lot of ammunition inside of the home. If you are familiar with ammunition, inside of the casing it has black gun powder and if ignited or a heat source gets to it, it can cause it to discharge,” explained Chief Wright.

The fire caused the ammunition to ignite and begin popping off roughly six minutes later.

According to Chief Wright, the suspect exited his home at about 4:16 p.m. “We knew he was alive and well at that point. When he did that, he took cover behind a vehicle and began engaging our officers in gunfire.”

The officers returned fire and a shootout continued for several minutes. “It was a gun battle between the suspect and our police officers,” said Chief Wright. “There’s no other way to say it.”

With help from a Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office drone, law enforcement was able to see the suspect – who was heavily armed – was down outside the home.

Chief Wright said seven Summerville officers are on administrative leave with pay for discharging their guns. It is a standard practice for officers involved in a shooting.

Chief Wright said it is unknown if the suspect took his own life or was struck by officer gunfire.

Dorchester County Coroner Paul Brouthers identified the man as 51-year-old John Baldwin. He was pronounced deceased at the scene at 7:05 p.m.

Baldwin underwent an autopsy on Monday. Preliminary reports show he sustained two bullet wounds. The final autopsy report is pending.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating. They said no law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.