Investigation underway after 2 people shot in Estill

ESTILL, SC. (WTOC) - [UPDATE 7/4 8:40 P.M.] 23-year-old Deauntay Williams, Jr. was taken into custody following a shooting near Tuten Boulevard and Clarke Avenue on Saturday afternoon.

The Estill Police Department officers found two victims who had both sustained gunshot wounds at around 1 p.m.

According to witnesses, a group of people got into a fight and Williams allegedly pulled out a gun and shot two people.

Emergency Medical Services transported both victims to Hampton Regional Medical Center for treatment. They are expected to survive.

Chief Chauncey Solomon stated that while he was en route to the scene, he received a telephone call from a woman who identified herself as the mother of a young man involved in the shooting. She informed Chief Solomon that her son was at her residence and wished to surrender to law enforcement.

“The mother of the suspect actually called me and said that her son was involved in the shooting and come get him. Before I came to the scene, I actually went and picked up the young man,” he told WTOC at the scene on Saturday.

Williams, Jr. voluntarily surrendered without incident.

“While Chief Solomon strongly condemns the violence that occurred today, he commends the suspect’s mother for her courageous and responsible decision to contact law enforcement. Her actions helped ensure that the situation ended peacefully and prevented the potential for additional violence,” the police department wrote. “Chief Solomon believes this response reflects the strong relationships the Estill Police Department has worked to build with the community through its community policing efforts over the past three years.”

“If more parents took this kind of responsible action when their children become involved in criminal activity, our communities would experience far less of the violence that causes so much suffering,” Chief Solomon said.

Chief Solomon thanks Sheriff Anthony Russell and the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office for assisting the Estill Police with this matter.

Solomon stated: “We can always count on Sheriff Russell and his deputies to come out to help our department in situations like this.”

The Estill Police Department asks the community to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers as they recover.

This remains an active investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

[ORIGINAL STORY] Two people were injured after a shooting in Estill.

According to a post from the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a reported shooting on Tuten Boulevard in the Estill area Saturday afternoon.

Officials say two people were shot. The Hampton County Sheriff’s Office is out assisting the Estill Police Department at the scene.

There is no additional information available at this time.

Officials say this remains an active scene and citizens are encouraged to avoid the area and use alternate routes, if possible, to allow emergency personnel to respond safely.