Suspect charged in shooting

WALTERBORO — Authorities have charged a 19-year-old man with murder in connection with a shooting which left three people dead and six wounded.

Danziel Chapman of Walterboro was being held at the Colleton County Detention Center.

The State Law Enforcement Division and the Walterboro Police Department declined to comment about the arrest or whether more arrests are expected.

Three people, including 20-month-old Shaniyah Burden, were killed Monday night during a drive-by shooting at a home at the corner of Gerideau and McDaniel streets.

Multiple witnesses and victims say police told them that an AK-47 was used in the shooting, though authorities will not confirm or deny that assertion.

Allen Fair, 18, was among those shot Monday night. Doctors told him he has a large bullet stuck in the bone of his right leg. Fair said .762 shell casings littered the area after the shooting and that police told him that an AK-47 was involved. Others have told similar stories.

“It was a machine gun,” he said.

Fair said he was outside with a bunch of people that night when he saw a pair of headlights sweep toward the house. He did not see what type of car it or the people inside, he said. He saw the car approaching when gunfire suddenly started.

Though his wound hurt badly, Fair said he knew others were hurt more seriously. He waited to get into the ambulance until more seriously wounded people could be treated, he said.

Charles “Bubba Dog” Kittrell died at the scene. His nephew, 21-year-old Christopher Powell, died at Colleton Medical Center.

Shaniyah’s mother, Alicia, survived being shot in her arm, leg and back while trying to shield the baby from the bullets.

Family members said Alicia underwent surgery to remove a bullet from her back.

The family received good news Wednesday when they heard that Rashon O’Neal Dantzler is going to pull through. Dantzler was taken to a Richland County hospital in critical condition. Relative Ella Adams said Dantzler lost one of his eyes as a result of the shooting but is expected to survive.

Walterboro Police released an incident report that identified the other shooting victims. They are: Khalil June Falks, Arnold Benard Ellison, Rashon O’Neal Dantzler and Terrance White. No ages or addresses were immediately available. The extent of their injuries also was unclear.

The report said dispatchers received a call at 10:13 p.m. Monday saying three people were shot and that the suspects had left the scene. Officers arrived and found three more people had been shot as well. One man who had been shot in the hand was able to talk to police, the report said.

Officers learned that two victims had already left the scene for treatment.

A bond hearing has not yet been set for Chapman. According to a SLED criminal history report, Chapman was charged by Walterboro Police with assault and battery with intent to kill in November 2008.

Check back with postandcourier.com as more details become available.

Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or aparas@postandcourier.com