Coroner identifies man in “violent encounter” at North Charleston gas station

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A man who died following what police described as a “violent encounter” at a North Charleston convenience store has been identified.

Stefan Sprincean, 28, from Moldova, was pronounced dead at Centre Pointe Medical Center around 11:30 am. Sunday, according to Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal.

Coroner O’Neal said the cause and manner of death are “pending further studies.”

Officers with the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) responded to a Sunoco on Rivers Avenue and found the store in disarray following an altercation between an employee and a customer. The customer, Sprincean, was located behind the counter suffering from injuries.

A spokesman for the agency said there had also been a brief altercation between the officers and the customer while attempting to control and place him in custody.

He was taken unresponsive by EMS to an area hospital. The employee was treated at the scene and released.

The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was called to investigate the matter. No other details have been provided.