Summerville Police, in coordination with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), have just released more information about the recent officer-involved shooting in the Robynwyn Subdivision of Dorchester County. The event, which escalated into a fatal standoff, resulted in the death of 51-year-old John Baldwin within a residence that subsequently caught fire.
The confrontation initiated from a traffic stop that quickly spiraled when Baldwin fled to a home on Lilac Drive, brandishing a handgun. Despite negotiation attempts and the use of a police robot for communication, Baldwin engaged with law enforcement, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The standoff culminated in a fire, the cause of which is under SLED’s arson investigation, further complicated by the explosion of ammunition stored within the premises.
In the wake of this incident, Summerville Police have placed seven officers on administrative leave as part of standard procedure pending further investigation. The officers on leave are:
- Corporal J. Dandridge, with 22 years and six months of service.
- PFC. J. Hogan, serving for nine years.
- Corporal M. Mizell, with eight years and 11 months of service.
- PFC. K. Nelson, who has served for 10 years and four months.
- Corporal J. Narciso, with seven years of service.
- Detective N. Reeder, serving for 13 years and 10 months.
- PFC. M. Wilson, with four years and eight months of service.
This incident marks the first officer-involved shooting for Summerville Police in 2024 and the fifth in South Carolina for the year. SLED’s ongoing investigation aims to clarify the sequence of events leading to the tragic outcome.
