Man, 22, wounded during North Charleston shootout in March has died

A 22-year-old man has died after he was shot during a March gunfight with the person he was accused of robbing, authorities confirmed today.

Racarlton Alphonse Scott had been critically wounded in the March 27 shooting, and he died Wednesday at Medical University Hospital, where he has stayed since.

Deputy Coroner Kimberly Rhoton said Scott died of his gunshot wounds.

The man who the North Charleston Police Department said shot him outside the Greentree North Apartments on Otranto Roads will not face charges.

Police spokesman Spencer Pryor reiterated Thursday that Dwayne Patterson was “defending himself” and his 4-year-old daughter.

Police reports say Scott walked up to Patterson as he loaded his daughter into his car. Scott pointed a gun at Patterson and demanded his chain, rings, money and cellphone, according to incident reports.

Patterson started fighting back after Scott demanded his pants. He fetched a handgun from his glove box and chased Scott around the apartment building, where Scott started shooting, the report said.

That was when Patterson returned fire, hitting Scott several times, according to the police. Witnesses described Scott falling to the ground and not moving.

The police said a 20-year-old friend of Scott’s, Jamel Prezzy of Sumner Avenue, then joined the shootout and fired at Patterson. Some bullets punctured a window of an apartment unit where a mother and her children were ducking in fear for their lives.

Dozens of shots were fired, prompting more than 20 calls to 911 by area residents.

Patterson was not hurt.
Prezzy then jumped into a red Honda driven by 24-year-old Jermaine Venning of Hunters Ridge Lane. The police said Venning swerved his car at a responding police officer, who had to jump out of the way.

Both Prezzy and Venning were captured at a nearby apartment complex.

Prezzy faces two counts of attempted murder, possession a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, illegally carrying a firearm and discharging into a dwelling.

Venning faces charges of attempted murder and failure to stop for blue lights.

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