In the early hours of Wednesday, an officer-involved shooting in North Charleston left one man dead, leading to an ongoing investigation and the subsequent placement of eight officers on administrative leave. The incident took place at the Marathon gas station on Dorchester Road and has been referred to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for further examination.

According to North Charleston Police spokesman Harve Jacobs, the incident unfolded around 11:15 p.m. when authorities received a report of multiple gunshots fired at the gas station. Responding to the call, an officer on patrol in the Dorchester Terrace area also heard the shots and promptly arrived at the scene. There, they encountered an individual armed with a handgun who was standing approximately 50 yards away from the gas station.

In a statement released by the North Charleston Police Department, it was revealed that several officers engaged in an extensive dialogue with the armed individual, urging him to drop his weapon. However, the situation quickly escalated when the man turned towards the officers and brandished his firearm multiple times before opening fire at them. In response, the officers retaliated by returning fire and immediately administering aid to the subject.

Tragically, the individual, later identified as 33-year-old Winston Dunham by the Charleston County Coroner's Office, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at 12:12 a.m. Investigative records indicate that the officers witnessed Dunham firing his handgun before he ultimately directed a shot towards them, prompting their actions in self-defense.

The North Charleston Police Department requested SLED's involvement in scrutinizing the incident, as it is standard protocol in cases of officer-involved shootings, said Jacobs. SLED spokesperson Renée Wunderlich confirmed that deputies from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office were also present during the incident. Fortunately, no law enforcement personnel were injured during the confrontation.

Shortly after the incident, the North Charleston Police Department released the names of the eight officers who have been placed on administrative leave. The officers' names and the dates they joined the agency will be thoroughly reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

As authorities delve into the circumstances surrounding this officer-involved shooting, questions regarding the use of force and de-escalation techniques employed by law enforcement are sure to arise. The community will undoubtedly be closely watching as more information becomes available in the coming days.