N. Charleston officer fires as suspect won't drop gun
By Jill Coley
Gunshots broke the morning calm shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday when a North Charleston police officer shot an armed 20-year-old man who refused to drop his gun, police said.
The Post and Courier
North Charleston police survey the scene of a shooting involving a police officer at the corner of Orangeburg Street and Corder Street on Tuesday morning.
Derrick Joy Jr. was transported to Medical University Hospital and is in stable condition, police public information officer Spencer Pryor said. MUSC would not confirm that Joy was a patient.
Joy's handgun was found at the scene cocked and loaded, police said. The .380-caliber Taurus was reported stolen in September 2002 from the I'On neighborhood in Mount Pleasant.
The name of the officer will be released in a day or two, Pryor said. The officer is on paid administrative leave while the State Law Enforcement Division investigates, which is standard practice in shootings involving police officers.
The incident unfolded near the intersection of Corder and Orangeburg streets, off Rivers Avenue. The modest neighborhood is a mix of houses, mobile homes and apartments.
"We've had a lot of complaints from that neighborhood about drug activity, specifically the location where the officer was," Police Chief Jon Zumalt said.
Audio clip
North Charleston Police Chief Jon Zumalt speaks at the press conference
The veteran officer was on a routine patrol when he tried to take a gun from Joy, police said. They would not disclose the reason for stopping Joy.
"In this case, by the individual's own statement, he was armed, he drew the gun on the officer, failed to drop it, and the officer ended up shooting him," Zumalt said. "The officer was defending himself."
A few hours after the shooting, a muscular man in work clothes stood outside the crime-scene tape. The man, who would not give his name, identified himself as Joy's father.
North Charleston Police Department
North Charleston police found a .380-caliber Taurus handgun on the scene. Police said the gun was carried by Derrick Joy Jr. and was cocked and loaded.
"I got my son's side of the story," he said. "Now I want to hear theirs."
The man said that his son was "OK" at MUSC, before detectives escorted him onto the scene.
Witnesses reported hearing about eight gun shots, Zumalt said. Police marked about a dozen shell casings spread out over a distance of about half a block in front of a row of apartments.
Joy is charged with unlawful carrying of a handgun, possession of a handgun by a person under age 21, possession of a stolen handgun and pointing and presenting a firearm.
Police could not say whether Joy fired the weapon, pending investigation. Nor could they confirm Joy pointed the weapon at the officer.
"We're taking guns off the street every day," Zumalt said. On Monday, the same officer arrested a subject with a handgun in the Old Village of North Charleston.
Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.
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Printer-friendly versionComments
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Why did he have a gun? If the police are called out and your brandishing a gun let me say this AGAIN, IF THEY TELL YOU TO DROP THE GUN YOU MIGHT WAT TO DO SO!
Probably another good boy never in trouble his mama will say! I was just telling some out of towners how much my life long home has changed. I told them watch the news someone is getting shot every night!
February 27, 2008 at 6:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
Great job, officers!
February 27, 2008 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tygers1231 (anonymous) says...
Anybody else wondering why there were 8 shots and the guy is still alive? Does it scare you to think these "COPS" that are supposed to be protecting the public are such bad shots?
February 27, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Clemson1979 (anonymous) says...
North Charleston is the ARMPIT of SC.
February 27, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realman (anonymous) says...
Whoever that cop is, he sure has guts! Confiscates two guns in as many days!
February 27, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LowCountryCrime (anonymous) says...
tygers,
Go run the stress course at the academy and see how good your aim is while running, struggling with a suspect, etc. This ain't Hollywood, cowboy.
As soon as the Clerk of Court's search page comes back up, research should reveal the skinny on this suspect.
To the officer,
Good job...you went home to your family uninjured.
February 27, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gabba (anonymous) says...
Great job officer. Thanks for being out there.
February 27, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
I hope this NC disarmament program catches on. This brave officer probably saved some lives with his actions. Now, if we can only stop the guns from coming into this area. Also great to see a father showing some concern about his offspring.
February 27, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pithy (anonymous) says...
Tygers,
Are you a "COP"? Hmmmm I think not. Why don't you wait to hear the whole story before you pass judgment on whether the POLICE OFFICER did or didn't do his job?
At the risk of repeating myself from different postings - who will YOU call when you or a family member needs help or protection? Ghostbusters? No - you will call the people who swore to protect and serve, even those who criticize their every move with no substantiative evidence.
February 27, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pithy (anonymous) says...
Also - Great job NCPD! Keep up the good fight!
February 27, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
tygers has been watching too much Hollywood. North Chuck is not the armpit, it's points much much further south and danker. North Chuck needs to stay out of Goose Creek.
If the "nice boy" couldn't follow directions, then the consequences can be a mofo. Maybe his mama should have taught him to listen a tad bit more.
February 27, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
follyb (anonymous) says...
No No Clemson1979....Now its James Island
There was an armed robbery Sunday morning at the gas
station on Fleming and Maybank. No place is safe
in Charleston
February 27, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Great job."Thank You" for Your Courageous Service.You are appreciated!
February 27, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
What is needed is a crime bill from our legislators. That'll fix things!
February 27, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbo (anonymous) says...
"What is needed is a crime bill from our legislators. That'll fix things!"
lol.
February 27, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pratt07 (anonymous) says...
LOL raregar67...
February 27, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grillmaster (anonymous) says...
Tygers,
Let me see you in a fight for your life and see how well you aim! You don't have time for sight picture in times like that!
Lived in N. Chuck all my life... it's far from the armpit. Got its fair share of seedy areas, but far from an armpit. Rated 25th most dangerous city in SC.. that means there's 24 that are worse than us.
Good job NCPD... I've seen a lot of good from the job you're doing!
February 27, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
Just what are our underpaid police officers to do? They are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.
I don't think enough people ever think about what the life of a police officer and their families is actually all about. They leave their homes for every shift never knowing whether they will return or not.
I would much rather read about a criminal being shot than a police officer.
Good job, officer.
February 27, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
In my opinion, he got what he asked for. He had a gun, had it illegally, it was stolen, he pointed it, was told to drop it, didn't.....
February 27, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tygers1231 (anonymous) says...
LowCountryCrime
UrGatorbait
pithy
At no time did I ever say that the cop wasn't doing his job, I was just questioning the accuracy of his shot? I would hope that the academy are teaching these men and women that put their lives on the line that appropriate way to keep themselves safe when they are doing their JOB. And, for those of you that are wondering...no I am not a cop, no I don't think this is hollywood, and YES, I do not what it is like to be under pressure with your life flashing in front of your face, it is called being ACTIVE DUTY military in the DESERT!!! Have you guys been there and done that??? And guess what, that is not Hollywood either, so before you start throwing stones at people and accuse someone of living in Hollywood, I suggest you suit up and carry yourself over there!!
February 27, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anothernobody (anonymous) says...
When God gives the earth an enema... he inserts the nozzle at the corner of Buskirk and Remount.
February 27, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
exactly forget...it really can be that simple. Pull a gun on a cop and be prepared to die. Can't wait to hear more about the background of this upstanding citizen.
February 27, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LowCountryCrime (anonymous) says...
tygers,
Thanks for your service! I believe the appropriate motto should be "spray the prey" eh? There is a difference, however, between having an M4 at ready arms and having to clear leather in an instant and start shooting.
To be honest, I have known some officers that couldn't hit the target at 15 yards on a nice, calm firing range. In the old days, they were "passed" during subsequent requals. That doesn't happen now. You don't qualify, the range master takes your artillery and sends you away.
February 27, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pratt07 (anonymous) says...
tygers-
Are you still deployed?
February 27, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roger1978 (anonymous) says...
Tyger, if you really are military then I thank you for your service and the next time the libral media accuses you of killing innocent Iraqis I will as I always do, hold my judgement until ALL the facts are in. Its the least I can do since I'm not there in your shoes, just like you were not in this officers shoes.
As for the scumbag not dying, thats Murphys Law, they never die when they get shot!
February 27, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jca (anonymous) says...
glad theres one less criminal on the roads for a few nights i used to live there on helm glad i got out of there in 2002 i lived beside that ems station green nasty house tin roof lousy landlord never fixed a damn thing that neighborhood is scum sad that the violence is going up and down now that was a decent spot
February 27, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
I work closely with the police in my neighborhood and they are fine men and women. They put their lives on the line for us 24 hrs a day. While we are sleep, they are out on the streets watching out for us. Are there bad cops? Yes, there are bad people in every profession but I know there are more good cops than bad in N. Charleston. As far as this guy, what can you say. He is very lucky to be alive. About the dumbest thing you can do is point a gun at a cop. I'm curious to see what his father will say.
February 27, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPDBLUE (anonymous) says...
Good Job my brother officer,You did not hesitate at the moment of truth,You fell back on your training and came out on top.The name of the game is To Protect And To Serve your community and you did so with Honor,Duty and Courage...You are part of a brotherhood that few can be members of,the brotherhood of the thin blue line..
February 27, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
Did I wake up in Detroit this morning? This is getting ridiculous.
February 28, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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