James Island man fires shots at motorist he accuses of trying to steal from him

JAMES ISLAND -- Gunfire rang out early Tuesday in a neighborhood that has been on edge for months because of burglaries and auto break-ins.

A Riverview resident fired five shots into a car about 12:30 a.m. because the driver was trying to steal from his truck, the 22-year-old man told investigators.

One of the rounds grazed the head of the driver, who told authorities he was just looking through curbside trash.

Neither man has been charged as Charleston County sheriff's deputies try to determine what actually happened in the tidy neighborhood tucked between Folly and Harbor View roads.

Wade Martin of Julian Clark Road told deputies that he fired into a car driving away from his house because he thought the driver was trying to steal stereo equipment from his vehicle.

The man who was shot at, Ronald McClellan, 32, of Wellington Drive, told deputies he was going through trash cans when suddenly someone opened fire on him.

McClellan kept driving, going to his own house a few blocks away. One of the bullets grazed McClellan's head, according to the deputies' report.

The tiny neighborhood off Dills Bluff Road has been besieged by home and car break-ins in recent years, and residents said they are installing alarms and arming themselves because they are sick of it.

Ashley Broderick said it was just a matter of time until something like this happened.

"I think we're tired. I don't blame him," she said of Martin. "I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but as my mom said a year ago, this was bound to happen."

In an interview with a WCIV-TV news reporter, Martin said he fired his gun because he was defending his property.

"What would anybody do if you come outside and saw somebody stealing two thousand dollars worth of equipment out of your car? I mean, you're going to try to protect it," he said.

Later Tuesday, Martin told The Post and Courier that he had been advised by an attorney to stop speaking with reporters.

According to the incident report, Martin told investigators that he was sleeping inside his home when he was awakened by his roommate's dog. He looked out the window and saw someone breaking into his pickup truck, the report said. He grabbed his .40- caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and ran outside, it said.

Martin said he saw a burgundy Saturn leaving the house. He stood in his driveway and fired five times toward the rear of the car. One of the shots shattered the back window.

McClellan told deputies that he was in the area going through trash cans and was attempting to leave in the car when he was approached by a man carrying a gun. McClellan kept driving until he arrived at his house a few blocks away.

His girlfriend called 911 to report that someone had shot at him, according to the report. Charleston County EMS responded and took McClellan to Medical University Hospital.

McClellan was released from the hospital Tuesday morning, sheriff's Maj. John Clark said.

Clark said investigators still were processing the damaged car and interviewing witnesses.

Sheriff Al Cannon said late Tuesday there was evidence at the scene to support Martin's version of events, that someone was trying to steal from his pickup truck. Cannon said the Sheriff's Office will decide whether to charge anyone and which charges would be appropriate.

Broderick said break-ins have become prevalent in the neighborhood, including four incidents at her home by people who seem to have no fear of the consequences. She and her husband have invested thousands of dollars in a security system for their house, which includes motion alarms, cameras and lights.

"It's lit up like the Fourth of July," she said.

The mother of two said they recently bought a gun and started training with it.

Broderick was raised on James Island and said she never thought she would see the day when it would come to that.

David W. MacDougall contributed to this report. Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or on Twitter at @andyparas.