Many questions, no answers, in man's shooting deathBy Nadine Parks (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
To offer tipsTo provide information about the shooting death of John Seamster, call North Charleston police at 554-5700 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111. John Seamster's neighbors want to know what the 60-year-old Mount Pleasant man was doing in a North Charleston neighborhood in the darkness early Saturday and what led to his shooting death. Seamster, whom neighbors described as a quiet and friendly man, was found about 12:40 a.m. in his sport utility vehicle, which was crashed into a house in the Waylyn community. A bullet wound was located in the right side of his torso, and he later died, authorities said. Charleston County Deputy Coroner Brittney Wofford said Seamster died from a gunshot wound. Police have classified the crime as a homicide and on Monday released no new information about the mysterious death. It is not clear whether Seamster was shot while he was driving the car, which appeared to have traveled straight along Constitution Avenue to 2758 Ranger Drive. Seamster's Black GMC Jimmy crashed through a fence and into the brick house. Seamster told his neighbor, Cindy Baird, that he was retired from one job and was working nights as a lab tech at East Cooper Regional Medical Center. But he was laid off from the hospital about a month ago, Baird said. "He was upset," Baird said. "He didn't come out of his apartment for a couple of days." But then he started the search for a new job, applying at several area hospitals, Baird said. Baird and another neighbor, Terri Naguib, described Seamster as a quiet tenant of the Anchorage Apartments in Mount Pleasant who lived alone and rarely had visitors. Nothing about his lifestyle would appear to explain why he might have traveled to the community where he was shot to death, they said. "This just does not make sense," Naguib said. Seamster's criminal history shows he had been convicted on a 1996 criminal domestic violence charge, a 1999 assault charge and a 2003 charge of leaving a gas station without paying. He also had several misdemeanor charges, mostly for fraudulent checks. Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by wpc3iop on July 22, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmmm...late at night...North Charleston...hmmmm
Posted by Tammie on July 22, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The neighborhood he was found in wasn't the greatest either. Hope his family and friends get some answers.
Posted by suec on July 22, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Seamster's criminal history shows he had been convicted on a 1996 criminal domestic violence charge, a 1999 assault charge and a 2003 charge of leaving a gas station without paying. He also had several misdemeanor charges, mostly for fraudulent checks. "
Sounds like he had some "issues".
Posted by Early on July 22, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if he was laid off or fired?
Posted by MsPiggy on July 22, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was thinking the same thing, Early.
I always say that nothing good happends after midnight. I hate to be in North Charleston during the DAY let alone at night!! I mean, that's just somewhere that a blonde, young white woman does NOT need to be. ;-)
Posted by suec on July 22, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I figure drugs or sex.
Posted by agoodsongmaker on July 22, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If one would drive off without paying at a gas station, one might be predisposed to driving off without paying an unlicensed pharmacist...I think there might be a couple of those practicing that particular trade there and their hours of operation seem to support the time he was there...or he might not have paid for directions out of that war zone...He's gone, God Bless His Soul...we're not gone and neither are the bullets and gun that killed him...
Posted by noname on July 22, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MsPiggy, I’m a young black woman, and you couldn’t pay me all the money in the world to be caught in that area after dark.
That area is so drug infested, I’m willing to bet, he attempted to drive off without paying the dealer, just like he drove off without paying for his gas.
Posted by suec on July 22, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet his neighbors were shocked.
Posted by abitskeptical on July 22, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Similar thing happened on Murray Blvd. a few years ago. The car came to a stop on a side walk near the iron gate of one of the homes.
The victim was a First Baptist School teacher I believe. I don't recall hearing that that case was solved.
MsPiggy...sometimes good things happen after midnight...depends on where you are! :)
Posted by scnative4ever on July 22, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Crack Cocaine deal gone bad!!!
Posted by JDHawg on July 22, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet it was either drugs or a hooker
Posted by letstakeawalk on July 22, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@ abitskeptical
That case is still unresolved, as far as I know. You'd think the CPD would be trying to solve a mysterious decapitation-by-gunshot... the P&C wouldn't print the innuendo, but the same-sex escorts down at the Batt'ry can get a little rough, I suppose.
Posted by Cid95 on July 22, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
goodsongmaker - "not gone and neither are the bullets and gun that killed him..."
Unless he committed suicide, he was killed by another person who used a gun. The gun isn't the problem, but sometimes the person carrying it is. It's good to be ready to deal with that kind of situation if you encounter it. Best is to not be in that kind of situation in the first place though.
Posted by RedHorse7 on July 22, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A person (no matter what sex, race, or genetic makeup) is in that area at that time usually for one of two reasons. Mt. P. is a long way to go for an "evening drive".
Posted by BigSargeofSC on July 22, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't say if the right-side window had been hit by a bullet or not. Gun shot inside the truck? How smart do you have to be...
Posted by I_Love_d_Peninsula on July 22, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is all of N. Charleston as bad as it sounds. There must be some good areas. From watching live at 5, reading the PnC and reading these posts, I am horrified to go there! I took my son to the bus station the other day and I was totally paranoid. I kept looking around like I was about to get robbed or something and this was in the morning! Please tell me some and what parts of N. chuck is safe. Thanks.
Posted by Cid95 on July 23, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Safe" is a relative term. Murders happen even in nice areas on "d Peninsula" too.
Having said that, I guess I26 isn't bad? Why would you be looking for "safe" areas in N Charleston? What is compelling you to want to hang out there?