Dorchester deputies investigate shooting of man in Ladson-area apartment

Deputies responding to a shooting early Friday found the victim on a second-floor stairwell, near his bullet-riddled and bloody bedroom, and found his furniture knocked over and water flooding the apartment.

Christopher Stephen Osteen, 25, of 300 Coopers Ridge Boulevard in Ladson was taken to Medical University Hospital with bullet wounds in his chest and left shoulder.

The shooting happened about 5:25 a.m. at Osteen’s apartment. No arrests have been made, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office Maj. John Garrison said late Friday.

He said Osteen suffered serious injuries, but his current condition was unknown.

A sheriff’s office report said Osteen was able to give a deputy the first name of the person who shot him. EMS arrived and began life-saving procedures on Osteen while deputies checked his residence.

A large amount of water was flooding the apartment because a sprinkler pipe had been punctured by a bullet, the report said. Photos were immediately taken, and maintenance service was called to get the water shut off, in fear the deluge would carry away information from the crime scene, The report said.

Numerous bullet holes were found in Osteen’s bedroom walls and the bedroom door, and “the apartment was covered in blood and most of the furniture inside the apartment had been knocked over or broken,” according to the report.

Dispatchers reported Friday that deputies were looking for a red Ford Ranger with a construction ladder attached, which was the vehicle said to be driven by the shooter.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of incorrect information provided to The Post and Courier, earlier versions of this story incorrectly described the location of injuries suffered by Christopher Osteen.

Reach Edward C. Fennell at 937-5560.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede.