NC man charged after shots reported near Trump supporters in Fort Mill
A Charlotte man has been arrested after shots were reportedly fired near Donald Trump supporters gathered on a South Carolina bridge late Monday, police said.
The incident happened the same day the president spoke at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte.
Marquise Damarius Asomani, 23, of Charlotte, was charged Tuesday, said Maj. Bryan Zachary of the Fort Mill Police Department.
Asomani is charged with six counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, unlawful carrying of a pistol, pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to police and court records.
Asomani’s bond was set at $75,000 after he made an initial appearance in Fort Mill court Tuesday.
Many Trump supporters had gathered on the bridge during the day, police said. The bridge is at Exit 83 of I-77 in York County, about seven miles south of the North Carolina state line.
Fort Mill police were called about shots being fired around 6:50 p.m., Zachary said.
“Officers spoke with several people that stated they were present at a political gathering, in that area of Sutton Road, when three male subjects drove by more than once, making derogatory remarks and yelling obscenities at them, from their vehicle,” Zachary said.
“The victims also stated that, as the vehicle turned from Sutton Road onto the ramp to northbound I-77, the driver of the vehicle continued yelling and then extended his arm through the window, while holding what appeared to be a handgun. The victims further stated that, at that moment, they heard several shots fired, and the vehicle then proceeded northbound on the Interstate.”
No one was hurt, Zachary said.
A S.C. Highway Patrol trooper was nearby at the time, Zachary said.
Sgt. Bill Rhyne of the S.C. Highway Patrol said the trooper was crossing the Sutton Road bridge when the trooper heard what was believed to be three or four gunshots.
The suspect and two others in the car were located off I-77 near Gold Hill Road.
The investigation remains ongoing, Zachary said.
York County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted at the incident scene, said Trent Faris, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
Federal law enforcement officials were notified of the incident, police said.
Trump spoke in Charlotte and greeted supporters later Monday at a South Carolina airport in Greer.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 12:37 PM with the headline "NC man charged after shots reported near Trump supporters in Fort Mill."
