One charged with shoplifting, assault after North Charleston liquor store owner shoots at him

A North Charleston store owner shot in self-defense at some shoplifters who steered their vehicle toward him this afternoon, according to a police statement.

No one was hurt during the incident around 2:30 p.m. at the ABC store at 5131 Dorchester Road, said Spencer Pryor, spokesman for the North Charleston Police Department.

The liquor-store owner told police that several people entered the store and started stealing merchandise. The owner chased the thieves from the building, then scuffled with one man.

The shoplifters climbed into a white Chevrolet Blazer, which traveled toward the owner, who drew a handgun and fired, he told the police. Bullets struck the vehicle, but nobody inside was hit, Pryor said.

Officers found the Blazer a short distance away, and the suspect and a male passenger were taken in for questioning, Pryor said.

Justin Lee Jones, 28, of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in Charleston was charged with shoplifting and assault, Pryor said.

The investigation revealed that the other people who walked into the store at the same time as Jones were not involved in the shoplifting and were outside during the incident, Pryor said.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede. Dave Munday contributed to this story.